#gay people are my weakness they can sell me anything

[hansatorium]

#had a vision had a thought #movies #cinema #gay movies #gay people #gay people are my weakness they can sell me anything #shitpost #meme

[rainbowsky]

Hey, I'm new here and i love your blog! I was wondering if the boys see couple\sexual edits of them together and if it makes them nervous but then it hit me that they probably aren't seeing what i see on western social media. Do you have any idea if those types of homosexual posts get censored in China?

Hi Yingyangorly! Thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying my blog!☺️

I have a huge long, like, ridiculously long post in my drafts related to this topic, hopefully coming soon.

But to answer your question, I think it's impossible that GG and DD would fail to see at least some of what's posted about them as a couple, whether sent to them by friends, family or staff, or whether stumbled upon or intentionally sought out/browsed by them. It's inevitable they'll see some of it, particularly things that get a lot of attention.

I talked about this a bit a while back. GG and DD have said in interviews that they have fake social media accounts (and of course they would - how could you go anywhere or do anything on social media without one if you were famous?), and this kind of discussion has happened somewhat in relation to fan comments, etc.

You can check out my previous post for more on that stuff.

As for sexual edits, etc., like any other content I've no doubt they've seen some of it - it's inevitable they would - but I doubt it worries them all that much. It's highly unlikely to ever impact them directly, because ultimately it's not really about them, is it? It's about the creators who make it. Any backlash is more likely to fall upon creators, not GG and DD.

And just as a reminder - it's not illegal to be gay in China, it's not illegal to post homosexual content, etc. Such content is censored on TV and other broadcast media, but not online.

Porn is very illegal in China, but that's mostly only selectively enforced. In fact, China produces a lot of porn and a lot of smutty fiction and all of it is illegal, but it still manages to thrive fairly well.

Explicit content of any kind is technically not allowed on Weibo but it's still out there - although most of it is pretty toned down and tame. Actual porn of sexual activity isn't ubiquitous there, but lewd fan art, fan fic, edits and memes can often be found.

All platforms globally have rules against explicit content, and they're just as poorly enforced everywhere. I suspect a lot of that is because social media engagement makes money, and sex sells. It's not really in the interest of platforms to completely shut down all such content - even if it was possible to do so.

The supertopic rules likely have more impact on fan behavior in this regard than the Weibo TOS does. Those rules forbid mentioning GG and DD by name or tagging their accounts, and forbid sexualization, pornography, feminization and fixating on body parts. However, that's only within the supertopics. Ultimately people are free to post whatever they want on their own accounts, and they do.

Given how many antis and solos are out there trying to take down the turtle fandom, the fact that these things manage to stay up for as long as they do speaks to how weak the enforcement is. There are definitely people out there who will report things that offend them.

This is, in fact, how the whole 227 thing got started. A bunch of solos decided to report an explicit fanfic to the government, and things spiralled out of control from there.

Could lightning strike a second time and another 227 be sparked from some of this explicit content? For a lot of complicated reasons I'm not going to get into here (it would be a very long post), I don't think that's likely.

227 was a special, very complicated situation that I don't think is likely to happen the same way again. Timing and a lot of the other factors that played into its blowing up the way it did - all of that is unlikely to align in such a way. Especially since everyone in C-ent is a lot more cautious and vigilant after 227.

GG and DD are both in good standing with the government (as is evidenced by their inclusion in government and nationalistic projects), and that's a factor that will have some influence. And no doubt they and their teams have learned a lot from past experience, and have already planned for how to protect them in various scenarios that could arise.

They also have the power to have content relating to them removed, to sue content creators, to shut down the supertopics if they want to, etc.. If they feel at risk, they have a lot of recourse. The fact that we aren't seeing this happening should reassure us that it's probably fine.

We have to realize that GG and DD are surrounded by highly skilled, highly paid professionals whose entire job is to protect them and their interests. They're both in a much safer place than they were 4 years ago.

I trust them to know what's best for them and handle their affairs accordingly. We as fans shouldn't waste time hand-wringing over things that are completely outside our control.

As for what's within our control - it's up to every individual to make our own choices about how we'll represent GG and DD online.

More on that angle if/when I ever finish that other post.

#bjyx #yizhan #ggdd in the public eye #fandom reflections #thanks so much #bxg ggdd #ask

[mirkwoodshewolf]

Metal type; Eddie Munson x reader

*Author's note*

Well this came at a funny moment, plus after seeing some posts of how Eddie Munson and Patrick Verona from 10 things I hate about you are similar, I figured why not do this fic with a fun little twist at the ending. Unlike my Halloween fic there's not much warnings here but I'll still list them as followed:

Warnings: parental death, grief, drugs (not hardcore just cigarettes and joints mentioned), some angst but ends with fluff at the end.

Enjoy the fic my darlings :)

Taglist:

@plethora-of-things

@waddles03

@psychosupernatural

@gay-and-ready-to-cry

@jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels

@queen-paladin

_________________________________________________________

There’s been a lot of rumors going around lately.  Now me I typically stay out of that gossiping chain because it’s just a bunch of hens clucking up the coop where they don’t need to be sticking their beaks into.  But when the rumor’s involve (Y/n), that starts perking up my ears like a deer.

Now lately my girl’s (well at least in my head she’s my girl, I haven’t gotten the balls to ask her out yet but I have my reasons! Like this for example) been going through a rough patch.  Her mom just passed away from breast cancer and it’s been hard on her not only having to go through the whole funeral process and trying to figure out how to keep the house, and trying to deal with all of that whilst still going to school and trying to finish off senior year.

She shouldn’t need all this stress.  She deserves to have fun her last year of school, not be dealing with house mortgage, trying to sell her mom’s stuff or put it in storage, keep paying off the funeral and hospital bills, Jesus Christ she shouldn’t deal with this.  Now I have tried to at least help her but she’s been pushing me away telling me and the guys that she’s fine and that she doesn’t want to burden us with all this family drama.

Now I may have been young when I lost my mom, but I remember the stress that Wayne felt having to go through mom’s stuff since my old man sure as hell wasn’t going to do any of it.  But that’s not even the worst part of the rumors.

Hawkins is a small town where everyone knows everyone blah blah blah blah, but there is a new face that’s been around Hawkins since the start of the new year.  Some guy from Seattle named Patrick Verona.  Now if I’m honest, he seems like a descent guy.  Good taste in music, pretty metal looking, not into sports or anything like most guys are.  But he’s been hanging around (Y/n) far too much and he doesn’t even go to our school and yet people are saying they’re dating.

Again I’ve tried not to believe the rumors but I have seen how Patrick seems to be there whenever (Y/n) is too depressed to be around anyone else.  Always having an arm around her, allowing her a shoulder to cry on, and even kissing her tears away.  I can do all of that, hell we’ve been friends since middle school! Why can’t she allow me to do any of that stuff for her!? I want to be there for her so why isn’t she letting me help her out!?

It was lunchtime and once again (Y/n) hadn’t shown up for lunch.  I silently munched on my pretzels.

“(Y/n) not joining us again?” I heard Henderson say.

“Nope.” Said Jeff.

“I think I heard she went off with that Patrick guy again. Saw his bike coming up during third block just before the lunch bell rang.” Said Gareth.

“And my best guess is she’s gonna miss Hellfire again.” Whined Wheeler.

“Back off Wheeler!” I snapped throwing a pretzel at his head.  “She has a very good excuse to miss so many meetings. Grief isn’t something that can just be put on hold like a stupid laundry basket game or a dentist appointment.”

“Ow! Jesus…..” Wheeler whined.

“He didn’t mean it Eddie.” Henderson tried to lighten up Wheeler’s insensitive comment.

“Really cause I think he was making a statement on how I should run my club. Am I wrong Wheeler?” I sneered lowly.

“No Eddie I swear I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry.” Even for his weak-ass apology, I dropped it and went back to my snacked lunch.

“To be fair though Eddie, normally this many missed Hellfire meetings results in automatic banishment from the club. You sure you ain’t just going easy on her because you love her?” Gareth said bluntly.  I smacked him upside the head.

“Continue to say stupid shit like that and I’ll think about the banishment for another member of this group.” I threatened which got him to shut up and look back down at his tray.  When I looked up I soon spotted (Y/n) heading for the back doors.

Quickly I grabbed my lunchbox and chased after her.  I at least wanted to check up on her and see how she’s been doing since last I saw her a week or so ago.

“(N/n) wait! Wait!” I charged out the main doors of the school and she turned to face me.

“Oh Eddie, it’s you.”

“Yeah, sorry bout that didn’t mean to startle you.”

“You didn’t.” she looked extremely exhausted.  Bags upon bags were under her eyes and the poor thing looked exhausted.  The usual bubbly girl that I loved was nothing more than a shell of her former self.  Hell this girl would even sleep in class, the one thing she’s never done for as long as I’ve known her.

“So—so listen I uhh—I know it’s been hard lately for you. But I-uhh…I was wondering if you’d like to uhh…..have a movie night after Hellfire at my place? I’ll let you pick out any of your favorites, even if it’s that cheesy rom-com shit that I don’t like.”

“Eddie, that’s sweet of you but I—”

“Hey girlie, everything alright here?” that Australian accent (which I think is fake) came up and soon Patrick came up wrapping an arm around (Y/n)’s shoulders and in his other hand a bag of McDonalds, all the while holding a toothpick between his teeth.

“Everything’s fine Patrick.” My jaw ticked as (Y/n) introduced us, “I don’t think you both have been properly introduced. Eddie this is Patrick, Pat this is Eddie Munson.”

“Ohh Eddie? The Eddie Munson? Well nice to meet you mate.” Being the gentleman, we both shook hands and I said trying not to sound condescending.

“You too man. Nice ride.”

“What that old thing? A hand me down by my dad. Trying to save up for a real sweet ride. May even take this little lady for a joy ride. God knows she needs it.” He lightly jostled her which made her smile what almost resembled her real, sunshine smile (the smile that I always got out of her, the smile that rivals all the stars in the sky, the smile that I wish I could make her do again, but they all seem to be reserved for Patrick Verona now).

“So uhh about……” I started back up the conversation between (Y/n) and I but she said.

“Eddie I’m sorry but Patrick and I have some plans tonight. Maybe some other time?”

“Yeah, yeah sure no uhh—no problem. Just figure I’d offer.” I said nonchalantly as I stuffed my hands in my pockets and kicked a couple of pebbles at my feet.

“And Eddie, about Hellfire I……”

“No need. Your temporary leave is still accepted. Just come to me whenever you’re ready to return.”

“Thanks for understanding Eddie.”

“C’mon sugar glider, better get going before someone sees us.” Patrick said as he took them over to his bike.

“See yah around Eddie.” She said to me.

“Yeah, yeah see yah.” She got behind Patrick and wrapped her arms around him as he placed a second helmet on her head before revving his bike and pulled on out of the parking lot driving off down the road. “That manipulative son of a bitch.” I walked back inside and prepared for the remaining day of hell.

The day came and went and I found myself over at Family video just to browse but also to return some of the movies that needed to be returned (they may also have been late I honestly can’t remember).

“And he just waltz up and has her pinned up to his side like an ornament.” I ranted.  “And seriously I cannot take that accent seriously, don’t you think it’s fake?”

“Eddie, you’ve gotta stop obsessing over this Patrick guy, it’s not healthy.” Robin told me. 

“I can’t Robin! The guy’s completely taking advantage of her! I can’t just sit idly by anymore as some metal-head biker punk comes into town, and swoops down at her like a hawk.”

“You know it is kinda scary how he almost resembles you. Same wild hair, same eyes, you sure you don’t gotta brother or something?” Steve asked as he was stacking some videos.

“Not helping here Harrington.” I grumbled.

“Eddie, how do you know this is like a romantic thing? I mean, take me and Steve. We hang out all the time and we’re not together.”

“Oh absolutely not. Yet I’ll always have Robin’s back if she needs it.”

“Strictly platonic. With a capital PLAH. Have you seen them kiss on the lips?”

“No. But that doesn’t mean they probably don’t do it behind closed doors. Plus couples don’t always make lip to lip contact in public.”

“You can kiss platonically too. I see the cheerleaders doing it all the time, course it’s that fake Barbie air-cheek kiss but still they do it. You’re letting your imagination run wild, again.”

“Plus man if you had told her how you felt in the first place, maybe this wouldn’t be happening.” Steve added.

“I told you man, I was going to tell her but then she got the call from the hospital about her mom’s diagnosis. It—didn’t feel right to tell her. She needed her best friend, not a confession to think over while her mom’s dealing with sudden stage 4 breast cancer.”

“I agree with him on that Steve.” Robin said.

“Okay, okay but still you just…..gotta relax, okay? Look maybe he’ll move on after a while and forget about (Y/n).”

“It’s impossible to forget about her, that girl can make anyone fall in love with her.” I grumbled.  The bell rang and speak of the devil himself, Patrick came strolling in and he said.

“I’m told this is where you can get some good films.”

“Yeah, yeah what can we help you with?” Steve spoke up.

“Something upbeat and funny. Sugar glider needs it for tonight.” Sugar glider? Wait that’s what he had called (Y/n) yesterday, she isn’t…..after rejecting our daily movie night she goes off and has a movie night with this asshole? I swear if he weren’t so relatable, I’d beat his ass right now.

“Okay well comedies are just over there man.”

“Thanks mate, say you two wouldn’t happen to be Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley would you?”

“We are, how do you know our names?” Robin said.

“(Y/n) has told me a lot about you two. Especially how you two have been helping her out with sorting through her mum’s belongings. My thanks to you both.” So she goes off and tells this guy about all of us but she doesn’t say a word about you?

“Yeah, yeah it was no problem. She’s helped us out so it was only fitting we’d help her out.” Robin said as she was stacking some tapes along the shelf.  As Patrick picked out some of (Y/n)’s favorite comedies like Beverly Hills Cop, Ferris Buller’s Day off, Back to the Future, and the Princess Bride. As Robin rang them up for him, he turned to me and asked, “Now (Y/n) told me you’re the one to go to with some good deals on weed. You got anything in stock?”

Weed? Doesn’t he know that (Y/n) hates the smell of weed? Hell the girl’s allergic to cigarette smoke! Which is why I always make it appoint to never, ever under any circumstances wear the same clothes I smoke in around her let alone smoke around her.  Hell I’ll have the trailer burning multiple scented candles just to rid of the smell, yeah it gives me and Wayne headaches but it’s worth it so that she’s comfortable.

“What’s the occasion?” I demanded.

“Nothing special, just need a refill. Ran out of my own stuff and of course (Y/n) don’t have anything.” Jesus this guy is really gonna smoke around her?

“Regretfully I’m out of stock at the moment.”

“Damn, oh well. Gas station always has some smokes.” Jesus this guy is a grade A asshole.  And not in the popular jock standard, I mean just straight up insensitive asshole.  “Later.” He then walked out after paying for the videos.

“You see what I mean?!” I snapped lowly.

“The guy’s just asking for some smokes Eddie. You do it all the time.” Said Steve.

“Yeah but not around (Y/n)! Jesus I don’t even know why I’m still talking to you guys.” I rubbed my face into my hands in annoyance.

“Eddie, why don’t you just go home? Relax, have a drink, and just get your mind off of Patrick and (Y/n). I’m telling you you’re getting too involved in this and your imagination is running away with you.” Suggested Robin.  I stuffed my hand into the twizzlers jar taking a handful of them, bit into one and stormed out of the store.

As I lay across my bed twirling a twizzler in my hand I couldn’t help but think about (Y/n) and Patrick.  The more I thought about them together, the more my blood boiled and my other hand kept fidgeting with my rings.

“Screw it!” I sneered lowly before getting up, grabbing my keys and racing off toward her house.  I parked a bit off from her house and slowly walked up towards her hedges and hid behind them.  I slowly peeked over her window and saw (Y/n) sitting on the couch talking on the phone with someone while her TV was paused on Beverly Hills Cop.

Patrick soon came in with two beers and plopped down right next to her.  He set the beers down and had an arm wrapped around her and he looked at her concerningly.  His ringed hand stroking the top of her shoulder.  She then hung the phone up and I saw her lower her face into her hands in defeat.  Patrick stroked his hand through her hair and the two of them briefly exchanged words.

I then watched as (Y/n) got up from the couch but Patrick suddenly grabbed her by her waist and pulled her over his lap and he gave her a peck to her forehead.  She gave him a gently slap to the chest before he allowed her to get up off his lap.  But again, just as she walked two steps, he sat up, grabbed her by the waist again and pulled her back across his lap and pecked her twice this time on both her cheeks.  She shoved at his face playfully and told him something that I couldn’t understand but he allowed her to get up a third time.

As she got up, he then grabbed her and they playfully went down to the ground as he wrestled on top of her tickling her, I could hear the faint sounds of her laughter coming out from the window.

So it is true, she really did find someone better than me.  Well if that’s her decision then—I can’t stop her.  But this guy should at least have the decency in knowing of what she likes.  I walked over to the door and knocked on it rapidly.  I heard the laughter stop and footsteps coming to the door and opening it was (Y/n)m her hair a bit disheveled from their wrestling I had just seen.

“Eddie, what are you—”

“I need to talk to Patrick.”

“Uhh okay.” I didn’t wait for her to open the door as I just stormed in.  When I saw him getting up from the floor, he looked up at me and said.

“Well this is a surprise. Did you end up finding some smokes left over?” that smug-eating grin came across his face.

“Even if I did have any smokes or left over joints, I would tell you one thing. Don’t you ever smoke it around (Y/n), okay? She can’t stand the smell of it, not to mention she’s allergic to cigarette smoke. And that’s no joke, okay? Her breathing becomes so tight she can barely breathe, it’s like she’s going into anaphylactic shock if she even smells a whiff of it. So if you’re gonna date her, don’t you ever do that in front of her.”

“What?” he said confused with a head tilt.

“No, no you pay attention because you don’t know just how lucky you are man!” I snapped.  I jostled his shoulders and emphasized each point I made with a firm poke to his chest.  “You better treat this lady like a Queen, okay? Because if I had someone like (Y/n) (L/n) I would bring her her favorite flowers every chance I got. And they aren’t roses because she says roses are too cliché, you understand? Her favorite flowers are blue orchids, you got that blue orchids. Because they bring out her bright, beautiful eyes. And when she’s sick, she gets chicken ramen just like how her mom used to make for her with a side of saltine crackers. I would be her shoulder to cry on and her best friend. And I would spend every second of every day trying to get her to smile because she—she has the most beautiful smile that I’ve missed so much. And that I would do anything to see that smile again.”

I turned to look at (Y/n) who was staring at me with this wide-eyed look of awe.  Even though my heart was aching at the fact I had now spilled my feelings for her even though she’d never be mine, I—I had to at least let her know that I’ll always be there for her.

“But she chose you. So……you better do just that. And much more to make her happy, especially now. Because that’s what I would do.” I released Patrick’s shoulders and went to walk out the door but (Y/n) quickly got to the door before me and shut it, staring up at me with soft but sad eyes.

We both stared at each other until she slowly walked towards me.  I looked down shamefully but I soon felt her take my face in between her hands and her lips soon met mine.  Her arms slid around my neck and I wrapped mine around her waist bringing her closer to me as I kissed her back.

“See what’d I tell yah? He’s your penguin.” Patrick’s voice said.  We separated and saw he was leaning up against the wall, toothpick in mouth with a wide grin.

“What?”

“Eddie, I’d like for you to formally meet Patrick Verona. My cousin.” She told me.  I looked to Patrick in shock who grinned at us again and gave me a two-finger salute.

“Your—your cousin……”

“Well when we call each other cousins its more loosely. I treat my little sugar glider like she’s my little sister.” Patrick told me. 

“He’s been a real familial support system that I haven’t been getting with the rest of the family ever since mom got sick. After the funeral he just—showed up and he’s been staying here ever since helping me out with all this stuff.”

“Aunt (M/n) was the glue that kept the family together and ever since her death, the family’s been divided and (Y/n) has been stuck in the middle while still trying to finish school. I couldn’t let her go through all that drama and stress alone. One of us has to at least be successful, right sis?” He gave her a wink which made (Y/n) shake her head.

“They were right, I’m a complete dumbass.” I muttered.

“Look mate, any man whose willing to allow me to take this girl as my own, is a real man in my books. Even though if we did hook up we’d have some ugly-ass kids.” The three of us softly laughed.  Patrick came up to me and placed a strong hand to my shoulder softly jostling it around, “You know, I haven’t heard my little sugar glider talk about a boy the way she talks about you Eddie Munson. Now I see that you are truly something special to my little cousin.” I turned over to (Y/n) and said.

“More than anything in this whole world.” (Y/n) softly smiled as she placed her hand over her heart.

“Then you have my permission to date her, but just know this. If you ever break her heart or mistreat her,” the sound of a switchblade came out and I froze as the gleam of the blade came below my chin.

“Patrick!” (Y/n) exclaimed. As quick as he had brought it out, he sheathed it back and put it back into his pocket.

“Just for a word of warning.” He gave me a hard pat on the back and walked out ruffling (Y/n) hair before saying.  “Be back in a few hours, don’t have too much fun you two lovebirds.” Patrick then left the house leaving the two of us alone.

“I am so sorry about that, I swear that man acts like the fucking Joker sometimes.”

“He’s more metal than I ever could be.” (Y/n) came up and wrapped her arms around me.

“I think you are just the right amount of metal for me Eddie.”

“Really?”

“Really, really.” We both smiled and kissed each other again when a bang at the window spooked us apart and there stood Patrick giving us a warning glare (well mainly at me).  (Y/n) flipped him off and tossed a pillow at the window.  He stuck his tongue mockingly before disappearing from the window.

So the rest of the night was spent cuddling up on the couch watching her favorite movies until we both ended up falling asleep together.  By morning I noticed a blanket had been put around us both and I knew I wasn’t the one to have done it and neither had (Y/n).  There I saw a note on the table and it read:

Take care of my little sugar glider. And if you’re ever interested in some embarrassing stories she hasn’t told you from when we were kids, meet me for some smokes later this evening at the Hideout.

Patrick

I smiled and looked down at my best girl and kissed the top of her head.  At least we both had something in common besides physical appearances and our outlook on the world, we both care deeply for this girl that’s in my arms and want nothing but the best for her as she tries to move on from her grief.

#eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson imagines #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson fanfiction #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson angst #stranger things #stranger things fanfic #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things imagine #stranger things imagines #steve harrington #robin buckley #patrick verona

[yourladystar]

Star's Engage Catalogue Day 29 (part 1)

Sorry for the abrupt cutoff yesterday, something came up. But before I start the paralogue, I wanna really highlight just how hard it is for me to pick who I want to give the pact ring to. So allow me to go into detail of the 10 candidates I have for this.

Yeah, you heard me right.

I said 10.

I was really hoping last night would make it easier for me, but no.

Also, this isn't in any order from least likely to most like, it's just how they're listed in the support list I have for Alear right now.

Seadall

Y'all already know by this point that I fell in love with Seadall the second we got a screenshot of him and I went feral when he first appeared in the game. This man is absolutely gorgeous, his voice is soothing, and he has an enjoyable personality and an interesting backstory. And I like how it works for his and Alear's supports.

Rosado

Outside of being a gender-nonconforming icon, Rosado is so likable and his supports with Alear was surprisingly really good. Having someone in your life who not only validates what you do but understands it is so satisfying, and I can totally picture these two adventuring to find the next hidden beauty the world has to offer.

Yunaka

This one genuinely shocked me. If you remember the tier list I made before Engage came out, you know I didn't have high hopes for Yunaka. And when the game came out and I saw the fandom reception to her, I got even less enthusiastic about her. I felt like I was gonna get another meme character who's only noteworthy for one thing that the fandom beats into being outdated faster than it became popular.

Boy was I wrong!

Reading her supports and learning about her past, struggles, and newfound goals skyrocketed her to being one of my favorites, and Alear's supports with her was part of it.

I know she's a fan favorite, but you guys are honestly not giving her the proper attention.

Diamant

I love both the Brodia brothers and while I like Alcryst more, I ain't about to sell Diamant short. His supports with Alear really sold it for me. The two were able to see each other's vulnerabilities, came to understand each other outside of their painted views, and are now comfortable with being who they are underneath their brave exteriors with each other.

You gotta love a pairing where the two expressing their weaknesses brings them closer.

Zelkov

Zelkov is a character who just gets better with each support of his I unlock. It is actually unfair how amazing this character is. And I love his supports with Alear.

I'm a sucker for pairings where character A has a hobby or interest that others find either weird or disturbing, but character B not only finds it interesting, but actively engages with character A on it. It's one of the main reasons why Shinsai is one of my favorite Danganronpa ships.

Even if I don't pick him, there's no denying these two got great chemistry.

And their A-support was cute as hell.

Alfred

Even discounting their supports, Alfred feels like the option the story itself is going for. I have been taking screenshots of every gay moment these two have shared and it's a lot.

I tend not to care for canon pairings ever since I've come to realize that shipping one character with multiple people is fine, along with the fact that a lot of canon pairings in Fire Emblem don't hit it for me, but these two feel the most expected by Engage's narrative and they do a damn good job at making you believe it.

Ivy

I love this absolute cringe-fail of a woman. I love every moment that showcases her as the walking barely functioning disaster she is and her supports with Alear balances this with her softer side that just wants a break from the hell that is her life.

The Elusia sisters both deserve a vacation to just not worry about anything.

Alcryst

I knew from his first scene that I was gonna love Alcryst, yet that still feels like an understatement. Soft boys with anxiety really draw me in, and Alcryst being an absolute sweetheart on top of it sold me so hard on him.

Also, I know I commented on Alfred having notable gay moments with Alear, but Alcryst also had his fair share of them.

I just love my Brodia boys and I want them to have happiness.

Amber

I love this f*cking idiot so Goddamn much! He is such a lovable goofball who makes me smile anytime he's on screen! His supports with Alear are simple yet so cute to watch these two dorks bounce off each other.

Amber honestly has good chemistry with every character I've had him talk to, which is kinda nuts!

Pandreo

And last but certainly far from least. Pandreo was someone who I knew was gonna have an interesting dynamic with from the moment he and Alear met, and I was not disappointed by that. You really can't get any more of a wish fulfillment than being able to hang out daily with the very deity your church worships.

Also, Pandreo seeing more of Alear's humanity by inviting him to his parties and being kinda embarrassed about it is funny and adorable.

But yes, this is my current dilemma.

I'm just hoping that by the time I'm done with the paralogue, I'll finally have my answer.

#fire emblem engage #playthrough #first playthrough #seadall #fe seadall #rosado #fe rosado #yunaka #fe yunaka #diamant #fe diamant #zelkov #fe zelkov #alfred #fe alfred #ivy #fe ivy #alcryst #fe alcryst #amber #fe amber #pandreo #fe pandreo #This cast is too good!

[yippeecheapdvds]

Last month I read “Fated Mates and Where to Find Them” by AJ Sherwood. Vampire Romance/Queer. Published 2023.

I didn’t enjoy it. It was boring. I wasn’t engaged. The prose were bad, very amateur. The book reminded me of mediocre fanfiction, or my own writing when I was 17. I got about halfway through (page 52/122) before deciding to DNF. I checked the epilogue and gleamed I wasn’t gonna miss anything.

There was to much telling and not enough showing. Zander goes on and on about how cute Max is, and Max talks about how attractive Zander is, or how intimidating he was when he subdued these two thugs, but I absolutely didn’t buy it. The author tells me these things instead of making me feel it through prose. My description of how the characters are feeling in this paragraph is just as provocative as the actual writing.

The characters were so boring. The wealthy vampire Zander is way to perfect. No quirks or flaws. No personality other than “nice”. Same with Max, who was only slightly more interesting. They were not cute or sexy.

None of the vampires felt like vampires to me. They spoke, dressed and acted like bland 20 somethings. All of them. The powers of the vampires weren’t interesting ether. They are fast, strong, drink blood. If they drink to much blood they go crazy and die. Some of them can compell people. That’s about it. No weaknesses, no turning into a bat, no angst, no sparkling in the sun.

Have you ever read one of those “sold to one direction” type fanfics? Where the main character is poor and is sold/sells herself into slavery and then is purchased by some hot rich guy who doesn’t treat her like a slave but instead is a flawless boyfriend who showers her with gifts and falls instantly and wholesomely in love with her despite knowing almost nothing about her. And after the initial phase where the main character is suspicious of her new owner, the slavery part is dropped and barely mentioned again and the story is just a normal romance? Change the girl’s gender and that’s this book.

Max was selling himself into slavery to get money to help his sick father. I got almost halfway through the book before giving up and the father never appeared on screen or was mentioned by name. I feel it was a serious missed opportunity to not show the father earlier, maybe even right at the beginning, to show Max’s love for him and his decision to sell himself rather than having this information be blandly exposited.

There was no connective conflict, internal or external to keep me interested. Things just kept happening. When I read the epilogue it was explaining that some evil lady and some business thing that were never mentioned in the first half of the book were delt with.

I didn’t really want to talk about this but… this book feels fetishistic of gay men. I don’t have hard evidence to point to but a lot of little things gave me this impression and contributed to my decision to DNF.

The one thing I liked was the vampire social system. There’s an original vampire (gen 0) who is super powerful, and the people who he turns into vampires (gen 1) are also very powerful. The people those people turn (gen 2) are slightly less powerful, and so on down until you reach gen 32 who are basically human. It’s a cool idea and not one I’ve seen in vampire media before. Vampire society is also like a family, with the vampire who turned you being your “Sire” and the people you turned being your “children”. It’s a cool idea and one I wish was in a better book.

The book itself was bad. It was boring. But it wasn’t abysmal. And i didn’t hate it.

But I did hate this; When you open the book, after the title, this is the first thing you read.

I mean… come on. This is so amateur. It reeks of immaturity. This author can’t be professional and take her work seriously. It feels like she got her start writing fanfiction and moved to self publishing, but never shook off the fanfiction habits.

If you are AJ Sherwood reading this, and you want to improve, take a writing class, look up writing advice on YouTube, get a writing buddy and/or some beta readers. And most importantly, take yourself and your work seriously. Mature readers pick up on insincerity and it’s the quickest way to make them disengage. This stuff may be fine on AO3 but it doesn’t fly when you’re selling published books.

3/10

#book #fated mates and where to find them #romance #vampire romance #paranormal romance #queer #gay romance #2023 #3/10 #DNF

[deyadee]

Some Part of Me is Slowly Going Away and I’m Scared

I always used to get the feeling that there were cameras constantly watching me in our old house. Now I don’t really get that feeling anymore, not even at work where I know damn well there are cameras all over the place.

Also I’ve been having a lot less mental breakdowns lately, or when I do they’re at work and I try really hard not to show it. Now when I see all these fucking couples and happy people I just feel a quiet emptiness in my chest. Half of the time I can’t even get angry anymore, I just feel a small sad voice whispering that that is something that’ll never happen to me. Maybe I’ve hit that “Acceptance” stage in grieving my own potential where I’ve hit rock bottom so much that I can’t feel anything. Though it feels so… empty to not be able to summon up that level of rage again. Is this what a “normie” life is like? Your emotions are in check but always weak and feel like you’ve lost yourself in a way. Am I even the same person now that I’m less depressed? I don’t think this is what I even wanted when I was more depressed. This just happened and now I’m here. Still no irl friends. Still no partner. Still living at my parent’s house. Still have no ambitions or goals. Still wasting my money on anything that’ll give me fleeting moments of feeling something.

I genuinely can’t say I’m the same person. And no, I don’t mean that bullshit where I’ve “grown and really reflected as a person”, it’s just like taking those pills- I get rid of my extreme anger and sadness and trade it out for feeling like my emotions are more dull. Do you think any person who would date me would prefer this boring me or the one that actually felt like they were feeling something?

I’m so fucking desperate I keep wearing these gay bracelets to see if literally anyone would notice them besides my parents and nothing- unless it’s someone trying to sell me more gay bracelets. Why would I ever think this would work? Twenty pounds doesn’t make any fucking visual difference. Fat is fat. You have to lose over a hundred nowadays for anyone to even fucking care. I got a size smaller jean shorts, but that just means I have to buy new clothes.

I actually went to weigh myself while in the middle of this post and it said 208, but then again it’s the middle of the night and I usually weigh first thing when I wake up so I probably weigh 204-205. But again, 200+ people don’t look like they’ve lost any weight until your bones are showing. I hate how all of my pictures still have a fucking double chin and I look just as fucking fat as ever. What’s the use in losing weight if you’re going to look the exact same afterwards? A fattie still looks fucking repulsive to anyone. People won’t admit it, but they’d never date my fatass. It’s no wonder my co-worker rushed to clear up that he wasn’t interested in me, who wants to be associated with a fucking pig. Actually that’s an insult to pigs because they’re at least smart and can be cute and loving.

This is the first time I’ve cried in a while, and it feels nice to finally feel some fucking self-hate. I mean I’m always loathing myself subtly but this is the sweet juice of self-repulsion, the kind that gets you to finally fucking crack and do something about that hideous fucking gut. If only I could just muster up enough strength to walk into the kitchen and make myself beautiful. Fucking cut off that excess fat right off the meat. Give myself a fucking human neck instead of a fucking frog sack.

Do you think if I started taking the meds again I would be better? Or just another stronger mood swing away from a throat slash? Whatever, I’m going to bed. Hopefully tomorrow’s work won’t be too hard, and that I’ll lose even more weight, at least get below 200

[askyourwritergrandma]

hello fellow writers,

Grandma has been scrolling through various writing tags and the reblogs and replies to older writing advice.  The one, unfortunate, but most common thing that I see is a down-hearted, fatalistic sense of inevitable failure.  There are so many writers on tumblr that seem to truly feel that they cannot possibly accomplish one thing or another (without it being clear if that their goal).  

While I intended this blog to be mostly about the nuts and bolts of writing, I feel like we definitely need to talk about the elephant currently stomping all over tumblr.

How can I call myself a writer if I can’t or do not write ________?

Here’s the thing, if you write then you are a writer.  If you write flash fiction, fanficition, short fiction, scripts, comics, novellas, novels or epics you are a writer.  If you write couplets, limericks, haikus or poetry in general, you are a writer.  That’s it, the only requirement to call yourself a writer is writing.

So why do so many people on tumblr feel like they aren’t or cannot?

Sadly, like most things that have both a for profit and higher education aspect to them, there is a nonsensical hierarchy to writing.  Everyone who has ever so much as glanced at the internet has been subjected to the idea of ‘tiers’ within writing.  Whether you’re found the long fiction is better than short, published is better than fanfic, traditional publishing is better than self published, straight fiction is better than gay (or vice-versa), you have seen this made up mish-mash of rules and general gobblygook.

This is what I know after writing for decades and attaining none of the made-up writer victories, you absolutely can do anything that you want to do as long as you want to do it for your own reasons.  I spent years of my life writing my novels toward the mindset of being published and I hated it.  There are so many rules and expectations about writing to be published.  There are limitations that I don’t particularly care for.  And because you are writing to sell the story in the end, you have to be mindful of what the market for your story is like because if it is not going to turn a profit, it will not be published.

I write whatever I want, when the mood strikes, and I share it when I feel like it.  That’s what makes me happy.  My goals shift based on what I think I’m weak on as a writer.  Today, maybe I’m working on improving my settings.  Tomorrow, maybe I’m strengthening my plots.  Next Wednesday, maybe I’m figuring out how to force two people who can’t stand one another to fall in love.

When you think of your goals for your writing, do not think of the made-up, arbitrary nonsense goals of the greater writing internet.  Maybe you do want to write to get published and that’s fantastic.  But if you are beating yourself up because you don’t feel good enough to be published and you’re constantly feeling down and defeated about it?  That’s not a goal for you, that’s a made-up cage keeping you from enjoying something.

If you don’t feel like you’re good enough to get published, ask yourself if that’s really your present goal?  Maybe you just want to write for now.  Maybe you want to write romance or horror or comedy or all of them because you haven’t found the genre that feels right for you.  

If you’re not feeling like you can write long fic and all the tips and tricks you see feel insurmountable, short stories are wonderful.  (I, for instance, cannot write a short story to save my life.  I just can’t without maximum, constant, painful effort and I hate it.)  Make your goals fit what you want, you want to tell a story and you like them to be smaller. 

If your goals make you feel like a constant failure, they are not goals that suit you.  That could mean they aren’t want you want but what you feel like you have to do or they do not fit where you are as a writer.  Because writing is a skill, you have to tailor your goals to the place you are now to improve.  Meaning, if you are writing pretty successful, good, confident 5k stories deciding your next story is going to be a 100k fantasy odyssey is not necessarily your best bet.  

Both a 5k story and a 100k story have the same value.  They aren’t imaginary tiers of accomplishment.  Writing a 5k short story and a 100k long story are entirely different skill sets.  You can build up and to get from one to the other, but it takes practice because it takes entirely different elements to accomplish each.

The too long didn’t read point I am making, my sweet writing friends, is that your writing goals should be reasonable, attainable and inspiring.  If you sit down to write and you feel crushed by the goal you have set, it is none of those things.

So, writing exercise for the week is to look at your goals, to really, really look at them, and make sure they fit where you are and where you want to go.

Good luck friends!

#writing advice #writing goals #writing #writing help #writing motivation #writblr

[smallblip]

Okay, but (sorry for my english) I just really love modern hc where they perform as the band No Name during their school festival (their identities are already known and that people know they belong to one of the most famous group in the school /with nanaba and erwin/).

Levi’s the face of the group and almost half of the fans have him as their bias but they really thinks he’s asexual or bi or even gay since they never knew anyone who had been his girlfriend and he doesn’t seem to be that person to be involved in any romance.

But then he surprises everyone when during their performance, he just grabs hange’s ponytail and kissed her deeply.

And people were just like—oh, shit, wait, what.... levi just—kissed his friend....his....friend.....Hange....the Hange

Then the crowd went wilder and even Levi’s fans just gasped with excitement because—damn that’s hot!

Even Hange herself were surprised but she couldn’t do anything since levi’s grip was too strong, lost in his own world as he ravishes her with kisses as if he doesn’t give a shit about everyone watching them

she doesn’t even know how long it lasted.

Then there’s Erwin in the crowd, capturing every moment with a camera because he’s the only one who wasn’t surprised about this

Stop the presses!

“Breaking news! Levi Ackerman frontman of No Name is having an illicit love affair!”

“It’s not breaking news if everyone already knows...” Porco rolls his eyes. Connie groans. Great. Now Porco is in his shot. The school’s journalism club is essentially him and Sasha with her phone’s camera. They do not have the skill nor the budget to edit him out.

“Who’s he dating then?” Sasha shoots back.

“Heard it’s a girl from another school.” Porco shrugs.

“Heard he’s gay...” Reiner offers.

“You just want him to be gay...” There’s sniggering and Reiner wants to punch Porco, but he’s a man of discipline, so no violence before breakfast.

“It’s just a rumour! He isn’t dating anyone! Levi’s too cool to date.” Eren says, gagging at the mention of the word. A literal child.

“Who would wanna date him?” Mikasa scoffs.

“Everyone in the school apart from you, Mikasa...” Petra says, “he’s dreamy...”

Connie urges the discussion on, Sasha capturing all of this. This is the best content they’ve gotten all week. “Come on! There are no bad answers!”

“Maybe he’s dating a fan?” Bertholdt says.

“Maybe he’s dating Hanji... They do seem rather close?” Pieck says, and the silence and scowls are intended to shame her. Connie looks at the aluminium foil on Pieck’s head. Right. The Signs movie screening organised by the conspiracy society is today.

“No bad answers except that one...” Connie says.

—

“You’re the talk of the town again...” Mike says, “they were discussing you on the school’s YouTube channel.”

Levi tsks. He doesn’t know why Mike bothers with that crap. It’s a pretty high quality production... he had justified, but there’s nothing high quality about Sasha’s shaky hands and Connie’s head covering half the frame. Everyone knows Mike enjoys the gossip, and there’s no one that enjoys it more. Except maybe Erwin.

“Do tell! Who is the enigmatic Levi Ackerman dating?” Erwin teases. He knows he’s not getting anything out of tight-lipped Levi. But it’s still worth a shot. Also worth seeing how annoyed he can get. Plus it’s not like they don’t already know.

If the canteen hadn’t been so goddamn full, Levi would’ve relocated long ago. Then again, his lunch groups hasn’t changed since his first day at school. The routine works.

“I’m sure you boys would be the first to know...” Nanaba chuckles. She had been the first to know and frankly. Levi’s inability to confess has been getting stifling. The only thing that really breaks the conversation though? Hanji tripping and landing face first on the table, lucky for her Levi moves her tray out of the way, saving her lunch, “watch it four eyes!”

“What did I miss?” Hanji asks, eyes already gleaming at the possibility of new knowledge.

“We were just talking about Levi’s illicit love affair.” Mike says. This is getting interesting.

“Awww Levi! You didn’t tell your ol’ pal Hanji that you were seeing someone?”

The rest of them exchange looks. God she’s so goddamn oblivious.

“Eat. We’ve got band practice before class.” Levi says, fingers already working to peel Hanji’s orange for her.

Nanaba winces. So goddamn oblivious.

—

“So we enter school today and Sasha what do we see?”

“Merch!” Sasha pops in front of the screen and does jazz hands with Connie.

“In the lead up to the big No Name concert, everyone’s donning their best No Name merch! First, let’s speak to the best in the game, Armin Arlert.”

Armin fidgets awkwardly, “ahaha I’m just a fan who just happens to make high quality merch.” Modest for someone earning big bucks from his enterprise.

“Ah... And you have competition this year!” Connie says into the microphone, which is really just rolled up newspaper.

“Well... The quality of my work speaks for itself...” Armin smiles sheepishly at the camera, but there’s something insidious in his eyes. Armin has to admit having sole monopoly over No Name merchandising in school has gone a little stale. Surely a little competition will spice things up.

“So Zeke, care to tell us more about your entry into the merchandise game?” Connie asks the bearded boy. Who has a full grown beard at their age? Connie makes a mental note to insert “sells bootleg merch” in the little panel that runs below Zeke’s interview. The whole school is also pretty sure Zeke had been behind the whole oregano debacle last year- someone had been passing oregano off as weed and selling it to the younglings.

“What’s there to say? Mine’s cheaper.” Zeke winks.

“So, satisfied customer. Why did you choose to buy Armin’s merch over Zeke’s?” Connie asks.

Pieck glances down at her Hanji shirt, “Armin got Hanji’s nose right.” She smiles.

In the background Armin and Eren are yelling at one another.

“How could you Eren! I thought we were best friends!” Armin says. Maybe the competition spiced things up a little too much.

“It was cheaper Armin! So much cheaper!”

Eren is wearing the ugliest shirt in school so, is it really worth it though?

—

“We are absolutely not blowing our budget on a confetti canon!”

“But Levi!” Hanji whines, “you already rejected so many of my ideas...”

“May I remind you that your previous ideas include a guillotine on stage, you repelling from the ceiling-“

“A tiger...” Mike adds and Hanji shoots him a look, traitor...

“It was two tigers...” she mutters under her breath. “Aww Levi you never let me do anything fun!” She pouts and Mike watches as Levi’s resolve slips an inch. There’s nothing more disgusting than the weakness of a man in love. Mike rolls his eyes. He had told Erwin if he wanted in on the action, he should join their band. There’s just so much to see that Mike has honestly had his fill. Or maybe he’s just saying it. Damn Nanaba was right, he enjoys this more than he’d care to admit.

“If you shut up through the next five songs, I’ll buy you dinner.”

“What about me?” Mike huffs.

“Deal!” Hanji shouts triumphantly, “and if you let me sing the chorus with you on this next song at the concert I’ll buy you dessert!”

“Almost as if I’m invisible...” Mike mutters.

“Fine... Deal... If you can hit the notes that is...”

“Ohhhh snap!” Mike says, and Levi turns to him for a high five. Mike smashes a beat on his drums. Hanji deadpans.

Ba dum fuckin tiss indeed.

—

“So it’s two days before the festival and the big No Name concert. Today, we’ve got a special treat for you. Roving reporter Jean Kirschtein will find out more about Levi’s love affair, straight from the horse’s mouth!”

Jean shoots Connie a dirty look. But the pun had not been intended. Connie mouths a quick apology before continuing, “but first, a word with the people closest to him-“ Connie nudges Jean towards the general direction of Erwin, Nanaba and Mike. Remember you owe me Jean! Connie whispers harshly when he senses his friend’s hesitation, now go!

Jean groans once more. God his reputation was going to take a hit. He’s vice captain of the soccer team for God’s sake. He doesn’t need this.

“Erwin Smith! A word? Uh... Thoughts on the rumours surrounding Levi Ackerman’s love life?” Jean asks. “Erwin Smith, football captain, history club president, student council treasurer, overall overachiever, and Levi Ackerman’s friend” appears on the screen. They all know if anyone’s likely to spill, it’s going to be Erwin.

Erwin’s eyes light up, he’s finally going on the channel he watches religiously with Mike. There’s so much he can contribute, so much gossip to share, so much insight. Maybe they would even invite him as a panelist on their show. The sheer power! He looks at Nanaba and she frowns at him and shakes her head. Ah damn it! He knows she’ll tear into him if he divulges too much.

“That’s strictly on a need to know basis.” Erwin grins.

“Well... Can you give us anything at all?” Jean asks. Please for the love of god he needs to pay Connie back somehow for setting him up on that date with Mikasa. God is generous but he can easily take it all away.

“We have good, solid guesses, but other than that... No... We can’t confirm anything...” Erwin answers, but not before glancing at Nanaba. She’s nodding. Good, that’s a good answer. Ambiguous enough to keep people wanting. Erwin is relieved. Jean isn’t however, he’s now certain that his debt is going to be rolled along a tab he will soon never be able to pay.

“Oh and the history society’s having quiz night next week, be there or be square!” Erwin plugs.

“Nerd!” Nile yells from across the hallway and Mike chortles.

It doesn’t take Jean long to find Hanji, after all she’s president of the biology club, so why wouldn’t she be in a lab elbow deep in a vat of something Jean doesn’t want to know the name of. It’s her kingdom with a whopping total of four subjects.

“Hanji Zoë, I’m here to ask for the latest on Levi Ackerman’s love life-“

Hanji Zoë- the school’s resident oddball, the genius herself, in the flesh, eating a checkerboard cookie. She looks up at him and there are crumbs on her face.

“Oh! Hi Jean!” Hanji looks up momentarily, “that’s easy, Levi’s in love with me.” She winks at Jean and chuckles. Jean’s jaw drops, surely she’s kidding. Hanji’s known for that after all- her quick wit and dismal personal hygiene. He chuckles awkwardly. “Yeah... Okay...”

“See you at the concert?” She beams at him and he replies enthusiastically. Is she kidding? Everyone’s gonna be there. But Jean remains strategic, he leaves right before she gets the chance to talk his ear off about joining her club again. “Shoot... There goes another one...” she says under her breath as he exits the lab.

Jean bumps into Levi when he’s leaving the lab, odd, what’s Levi doing here, no matter, Jean has a job to do.

“Levi Ackerman! Care to comment on the recent rumours surrounding your-“

“No.” Levi interjects and heads off.

Jean flips the camera so he’s in it, “well, that’s the scoop. Back to you Connie and Sasha.”

—

“It’s the day of the festival! But really the whole school is buzzing with anticipation for the No Name concert!” Connie announces into his makeshift mic.

“Will there be another accident on-stage this time? Will Levi Ackerman reveal more on his secret romance? Is there even a secret romance to begin with? More importantly, will Porco Galliard finally pay for his own food at the festival?”

“Hey!” Porco whips his head around to glare at Connie, “did Reiner get you to say that?”

Connie shrugs, “we’ll find out after these messages...”

The concert is a blast, from a spectacular entrance (choreographed, no doubt, by one Hanji Zoë), to Mike’s drum solo, to Levi’s vocal riffs. But there’s an anticipation of another sort- will Levi Ackerman finally address the rumours of his love affair?

“My Levi-Hanji senses are tingling Nanaba...” Erwin says mid-concert. As the self-proclaimed expert on school gossip, there’s no gossip sweeter than that which surrounds his two best friends. Nanaba thinks it’s an overstatement of his abilities.

But Nanaba feels it too- the electricity in the air, “i think it’s finally happening!” She says, nothing short of a vision.

Levi announces the last song for the night, and he makes his way over to Hanji during the last chorus.

HUH?

Sasha’s cameras are rolling. She holds her breath, for what she doesn’t know, but she feels it coming, call it director’s intuition if you will.

Hanji looks at Levi and beams past the bandages over their eyes, now upgraded to a material they can actually see through, ever since that one accident with Hanji trying to execute a stage dive completely blind. It’s not fun explaining to the ER nurse how you managed to fracture your arm in so many locations.

Hanji’s expression changes to one of confusion when Levi closes the distance between them. This isn’t part of any plan. Her lips part in a gasp. The crowd falls silence, breath collectively held in anticipation. It’s happening. The most significant and exciting moment of their young lives.

What in the name of Maria, Rose, and Sheena!

Levi grabs Hanji by her ponytail and crashes his lips into hers. She forgets how to function, her guitar now hanging limp and forgotten. But her arms find their way around Levi’s neck. It’s just Mike on the drums now, roaring with laughter.

“Hell yes!” Mike exclaims and it’s captured by one of the mics, joined by Nanaba and Erwin at exactly the same time. There’s a flash from Erwin’s phone, there, immortalised in a photo forever. He knows it’ll come in handy one day. For blackmail or for a future wedding montage. Either is fine.

What just happened?

Connie’s jaw is hanging.

“Levi Ackerman and... and... Hanji Zoë?” Connie says, more for his own benefit than for his audience. Because this is Hanji they’re talking about? The Hanji Zoë? Resident evil genius, overall weirdo, oddly magnetic and popular amongst both the boys and the girls, Levi’s childhood friend Hanji Zoë? The answer had been staring them right in the face! Levi at the biology labs, Levi glowering at her, the bickering, the chemistry on and off stage.

Connie whips his head over to Pieck, and she winks at him, told you so!

“I don’t believe it! Stop the presses! Levi Ackerman, frontman of No Name, in love with the brilliant, the magnetic, the one and only... Hanji Zoë!”

Hanji is kissing Levi back with fervour, until they’re both blushing and giddy, the music long forgotten, and when everyone is done gawking, the crowd erupts in violent cheering. Who would’ve thought emotionally constipated Levi, Levi whose private life has been kept a secret for so long, safe from the prying hands of the school press and his loyal fans, would choose to make an announcement like this. What a night! What a spectacle!

“I guess that’s all for tonight folks, and what a fantastic and surprising evening it has been!” Connie laughs, “I’m Connie Springer, and you heard it here first!”

The confetti canon goes off. And Hanji watches with uninhibited joy as confetti rains down on the stage.

“So... Tigers next time?” Hanji says, unwrapping the bandages from her face, her eyes glazed over and more beautiful than anything Levi has ever seen. He scoffs, pressing another kiss to her lips for posterity.

“Don’t push it...”

(A/N: prompt so good I had to write a mini fic! Thank you anon💖💖💖)

#yes it me pretending the manga and its spoilers don’t exist #thank you anon💖 #anon #inbox #Drabble #levihan #levihan fanfic #Levi x hange #Hanji Zoë #hange zoe #Levi Ackerman #mine #shingeki no kyojin

[nightswithkookmin]

Jimin is a pretty bOY

This is a continuation of our discussion on my last post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me, I think I agree with all of it.

Not sure how I feel about the calling eachother out bit or near scolding of others in the comments. Please let's be welcoming and respectful of others's thoughts regardless of whether or not we agree with it. It's ok to hold diverse views. We do after all come from different backgrounds and have accumulated different experiences and I think it plays out in how we see things. Everyone's opinion is valid. Plus, I purple yall.

Now, do I think he is trying to pack on muscles........? Yes. He said so himself in Festa when he said he would rush to the mirror when he thought he had gained some muscle only to find out his biceps looks like a muscled kindergartner.

He also said lately he's into exercising and staying in shape which is true because for quite sometime now since early this year he has been talking about how "weak" he is in their Vlives and have even given instances of him not being able to do certain things- certian simple and easy tasks- which is typical of him I'd say. He's always talking about how "weak" he is especially around JK and juxtaposing that with "but JK is so strong" which I'm sorry but I have to smirk at right now cos it's such a typical gay pick me simp thing to do. We've all been there.

Do I think he's trying to be a muscle bunny or revert back to his body shape around debut? Absolutely not. But I do think he is straddling the line of toxic masculinity which is what the conversation is about.

I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to stay in shape or even enjoying work outs. Last night I ran downstairs because I had left my stew on the stove and now this morning I called renew my gym membership because I discovered running can be actually fun to do... No. No it's not. The gym instructor would have to come for me kicking and screaming.

RM have said even though JM looks skinny and fragile he is one of the strongest within the group. Besides, this is not the first time he's expressed interest in working out and building his body- hello, on Era?

I remember people complaining he looked too buffed up in that period on SNS and PJMs quickly jumping in to clear the searches for it. The choreo for On required agility and endurance and required the members- not just JM build up some definition in their muscles.

We've seen them go through all that. So it's not simply a matter of black and white staying in shape or doing it because he feels pressured to do so. Especially, when you consider that he's undertaken some pretty unhealthy measures in the past in attempts to lose weight or soften out his body post these muscle building, weight gaining periods and we've always chalked it up to his dance and how as a contemporary dancer he has to look a certain way or this or that to try to justify and make sense of it. Next you, know there are six chapters of break the silence of him talking about all the dark places he's been, the pressures to look his best for his fans or for his job and all these other painful stories he's shared with us over the years. And it's like, but why? Why do this to yourself?

I'll never forget the look he gave JK when JK was talking about wanting to build muscles in one of the interviews for the promotion of Be- I think I made a post on it. When JK noticed JMs disapproving glare he backtracked saying he would want to stay skinny after gaining all that muscles.

I mean if I'm to be honest, he was bound to crack at one point. The signs were there being surrounded by all these men who adhere to the traditional aesthetics of a masculine body- from Namjoon to Taehyung.

I wish y'all will steer the conversation in this direction and make it more about gender norms and expressions and breaking stereotypes and diversity in the body aesthetics of men.

Jimin is a man too. He just isn't what people traditionally will label masculine. Androgynous is more an apt word in my opinion. How many times have I said, I think Jungkook hetero passes because his body aesthetics is quintessentially what most associates with a masculine man?

Breaking gender barriers is not just about embracing feminine apparels- that teeters on cross dressing quite frankly and can be a bit performative and baity. Then you have to consider their culture in itself has an inherent pro gender diversity feel to it.

Now, let me explain my problem with the Klout ad campaign a little bit.

Do you see how Tae stands out? And I'm not saying this to fuel the "Tae was their fav" debacle. It's the 007 feel... I'll explain in a bit.

Most often, alcohol advertisers as well as most advertisements intended to sell to men often try to appeal to men's internalized ideals of masculinity or try to shape and define what a man or masculinity should look like. These ideals are so often toxic and detrimental to men and mostly women too.

Take a look at these ads for example. All I had to do was google search ads for men.

Real men drink milk and look at the image they present as real men. This blatantly implies if you don't look like this, if you are not a strong cliff climbing man with abs you are not a real man.

The second image is subtle. I call it the 007 slash Kingsmen-esque ideals of masculinity. It portrays men as sexy cool badass- works out but isn't too buff, filthy rich or middle class, wears Rolex, designer clothes, is kind but has a mean exterior and is every 13 year old wattpad girls's dream of a man. In fiction, you see this kind of masculinity in characters such as Edward cullens to Christian Grey. And a lot of ads for men alternate between these two ideals of masculinity.

Do you see how they modeled Taehyung in these ads after this kind of masctheme? Tae looks the same in almost all the ads. 007 sexy cool badass.

Now, I may not be a makeup beauty guru or MUA or whatever, but one thing I've picked up on especially when it comes to makeup for men- BTS and Kpop idols mostly is that, they soften out the harsh features on their faces and make them appear more androgynous or effeminate to suit the Kpop look and they ditch it entirely in different settings.

So for instance, Tae and Kookie's natural hawkish eyebrows tend to get softened around the arch and edges- don't know how the fuck they do that- but it appears less in your face intense most times when they wear make up in kpop related contents.

However, in certain other contents that lean towards a certain gender theme those features are emphasized. Not to say hawkish features are masculine features. Just saying in men, Kpop idols, my observation is they soften those features out with makeup or surgery.

Now, take a look at JM in these ads and look at everything from his posture, make up, hairstyle and brows. It's as if someone took an eraser to his androgynousity and erased his feminine side. Take a look at his photo above and compare it to the ads.

I am not a man. But I feel the gender look they went for, intended to appeal to men, tapped into a rather outdated stereotype of what man and masculinity should look like.

What is a man?

What should a man look like?

What aesthetics of masculinity is Jimin gravitating towards now? And I'm not talking clothes, I'm talking the expression of his gender. Time and again, he's talked about how looking a certain way made him uncomfortable in the past because he was constantly fighting his feminine side. He is androgynous. Sometimes he leans more into his feminine side. Other times he leans more into his masculine side but this is the only time he's leaning into his masculinity that makes me uncomfortable to watch because like I said it bothers on toxic masculinity.

He's said whoever he was, the version fighting to look masculine, that wasn't him. So forgive me if I worry whenever i see him suppressing his feminine side and acting like 'one of the boys.' Him staying in shape is not synonymous with him erasing a valid part of himself or suppressing it. He can stay in shape, celebrate his masculinity and still be FILTER.

What I'm saying is, this not a conversation about him exercising. This is a conversation about an ad erasing his feminine side and boxing him into a narrow expression of his gender and how that might be affecting his view of himself especially in the way he's been gravitating towards a certain masculine aesthetics and how that could be toxic.

Tae has said the same thing and BTS have agreed the JM as of 2019 was the real JM according to them.They said he was that way- suppressing his feminine side, because there weren't much songs and choreos that suited him and so he had had to bend himself to fit with the others.

And so when I see him leaning a certain way I tend to wonder if his exterior environment is playing a role in that. I hope you can understand that.

He is a contemporary dancer and strength and flexibility are prerequisites for his craft. The company go out of their way to incorporate contemporary dance in their choreos for JM's sake which helps solve that problem of him trying too hard to look a certain way.

May be I'm projecting. May be my little brother is effeminate and I've always recommended Jimin as a role for him to tell him not to try to look different just because other boys look different. May be I've seen him try one too many times to kill himself in the gym trying to build on muscles and getting frustrated with himself because he ends up looking like someone else. You can't gym the queerness away. Society will never let you be who you want to be so you might as well flip it the middle finger.

These boys are being shaped by their environment. I hate to say this but the environment they are in isn't exactly progressive and the longer they stay in there cut off from the outside world...

Flying out helps. Meeting different people and being exposed to different cultures and conversations on gender expression helps.

Anywho, these are just concerns I have. Will have them till I see that's not where he is headed towards. But let's not act like these ad campaigns do not and can not psychologically impact these boys especially as these advertisers are not looking to tap into their own definition of gender and masculinity but shape it and redefine it to appeal to the demographic they intend to market to.

I think this is just a grey area for me. Rather than try to change JM to look a certain way in order to sell alcohol. I think the ground breaking thing would be to have a man who looks like JM show us how someone like him would sell a can of drink. I think that would be revolutionary.

Signed,

GOLDY

[thisiskatsblog]

Hi! I have a "weak larry moment" and I want to ask you. Why do you think they are still together? I mean... Everything what we seen could be just pr company.

Because larries still a big part of a fandom. Ao they give us what we want and we're belive them.

Sorry if I'm sound like a cruel bitch but what if we all wrong?

What if they are break up already and we are dellusional.

Oh anon.

I used to hate these asks for two reasons

1. I was wary they might have come from someone trying to trick me into making some kind of superficial and faulty argument which they could later quote me on. Isn't it sad how much we live in fear of being made to look "delusional"? I think that says something really important...

2. They made me feel treated like a Larry reassurance machine "when in doubt press ask for easy shot of dopamine"

Anyway, before I get into that, I want to say there's nothing weak about doubting. Doubt is good. You doubt, therefore you think, therefore you are. Moreover doubting your own convictions simply means you're not an asshole. So I think we can cut the "weak". You really don't want to live in a world where there is one fixed truth in which your faith must be strong.

Moreover, if indeed Louis and Harry were ever together and the girlfriends were PR relationships then to think Louis and Harry may still be in a relationship, but not really being sure about it either, is not "delusional" but a natural consequence of being confronted with conflicting stories for a prolonged period of time.

One thing in your ask doesn't make sense to me though. There's theory that sexual interest in a celebrity motivates buyers. That would explain why most rock stars are portrayed as single, or promiscuous, and why gay rock stars are often portrayed as straight with a long term girlfriend. So Louis/Harry+PR relationships with girls could make sense. There's also a theory that PR relationships between the leading actors in movies sells those movies. Again, that could explain why Harry and Olivia are in a (PR) relationship. Louis and Harry have nothing to sell together though, they have separate solo careers. I don't immediately see the economic motivation for keeping Larries on a leash as there's no theory that supporting someone's secret relationship motivates buyers - and most of all, there's nothing to buy from either artist that relates to that relationship. They're not selling Larry merchandise are they?

So I want to turn around your question and ask, if before you believed they were a couple, why do you now think anything has changed? What is different now compared to then? Why would you believe, after ten years of PR portraying a straight picture, PR would now try to keep alive the gay picture they intended to destroy all this time?

Last but not least, something really important about this fear of being portrayed as delusional.

There is nothing delusional about thinking that closeting exists. It really happens all the time. If, IF, Louis and Harry were never together, and it was all just a bromance into which LGBTQ+ fans, keen to see themselves represented, read too much... so what? So. Fucking. What?! Then we were wrong, and our lives will go on. And if, IF, Harry and Louis were once together, and now they've broken up, and we still believe they're together... again: so what?! I mean, we can't know, how are we supposed to know? If they were closeted, they clearly can't talk about it. There would be nothing delusional about us thinking nothing's changed, just as there is nothing delusional either about being in doubt because there's been no strong, undeniable confirmation.

What I'm trying to say with my So. Fucking. What?! anon, is that there's nothing wrong with getting things wrong. Or at least there shouldn't be.

But being very afraid of getting it wrong is, however, something we see a lot in this fandom.

One reason for that is that there is probably a segment of fans who have fallen into the dopamine trap, regularly opening their social media accounts to get their Louis and Harry fix. I am not at all judging that. Social media are designed to give you a dopamine shot and to make you come back for more. It doesn't matter whether the content is produced by PR or by Larry fans, after a while you’re going to need your fix and when there's a lull, you'll feel unrest. What if they are no longer a couple and I’ll never another shot of this again? Again, I am not making fun of this, it’s a real thing where we are, all of us who are constantly on social media, filling a void with a drug that’s legal and right in our back pocket. If this sounds familiar, then I recommend you watch the Social Dilemma. It won’t solve your dopamine problem right away, but it’s helpful to be aware of how it works. 

Another reason, and that's the really pernicious one for me, is the very real fear many have that someone would target them, dox them and portray them as being completely delusional for believing a man who's in a long term relationship and who accidentally had a son from a one night stand, would have a secret relationship with a man who's known to be promiscuous and into older women. Why are we so afraid of that? Because it's happened to multiple people of importance in this fandom. Because it happens to "Larries" collectively all the fucking time.

But if closeting exists, and if PR relationships exist, why on earth would anyone be so freaking invested in making people who believe Louis and Harry are a couple look like they're mad?

...

Now as to your question: Because of the tattoos and a number of other reasons, I think they were a couple, I like the idea of them, and I don't see any evidence of them having broken up. Maybe I'm wrong. I could very well be wrong.

SO. FUCKING. WHAT?!

#anonymous #ask #doubt

[emptykitkat]

little IwaSuga date thing that I might actually finish, or I might not, idk

“Ok,” Suga began slowly, “just so you know, my friends might be a bit… skeptical of you at first. So if they try to ‘interrogate’ you, just try to be honest and don’t say anything too suspicious.” 

Iwaizumi chuckled, throwing on his jacket and grabbing his keys. He opened the door and let Suga out before following him, making sure to lock up behind him. “What? Do I look like a suspicious kind of guy? And it’s not like they haven’t met me before, admittedly that was several years ago, but I don’t think I look like the criminal type.” 

Suga tried to laugh along with him as he got into the passenger seat of Iwaizumi’s car, but it sounded a little too forced. “No, no, you look perfectly normal, though Daichi sometimes argues that the ones who seem the most normal are hiding the most, but he’s just paranoid.” 

“Well he is a police officer, it’s kinda his job to be on guard for criminals.” 

“Yeah…” Suga trailed off with an awkward cough. Iwaizumi glanced over at him with a questioning look as he started the car. “It’s also, kinda, because I might have, or I ‘had’ since you’re so great, but um historically speaking I was kinda known for my rather notoriously bad taste in men…” 

Iwaizumi raised an eyebrow, trying to gauge how serious this was based on Suga’s nervous tone. “How ‘notoriously bad’ are we talking?” 

“Well in my defense I didn’t know what I marriage license looked like-“ 

“What?” Iwaizumi interrupted, in a louder and more high pitched voice than he’d like to admit. “You got married?” 

Suga tried to shush him by telling him to keep his eyes on the road, but a stern glance made him smile sheepishly and try to explain. “Kinda? It got annulled so it’s basically like it never happened. And he kinda tricked me into signing it… and it doesn’t matter because he got arrested a few years later for selling drugs. He might have been part of the Yakuza.”

Iwaizumi could feel his brain pause to buffer after being overloaded with all this new information. 

“Hajime? The light’s green now,” Suga quietly informed him, jump starting Iwaizumi back into reality as he started driving again. 

After a deep breath, Iwaizumi broke the awkward silence that they had fallen into for a few moments. “Is there a reason you’re only telling me this now? When we’re fifteen minutes away from having dinner with your friends, who will be comparing me to all your crazy ex’s?” 

“I didn’t want to scare you off,” Suga pleaded with a pouty expression that Iwaizumi promptly tried to ignore because he knew he was undeniably weak for Suga’s cute expressions. “And what am I supposed to say? ‘Hey babe I currently have 4 active restraining orders, including one for a man who tried to use me as a bargaining chip in a game of poker? A game he lost by the way.’ That will make you think I’m crazy!” 

“Four?” Iwaizumi repeated, stressing the one syllable word like he had never even heard of it before. 

“I mean yeah? Don’t we all have a few ex boyfriends who got kinda violent and tried to punch your friend because he assumed you were cheating?” 

“No Koushi,” Iwaizumi began. “No. In fact most of us have barely even dated enough to have four serious exes-“ 

“Oh no I didn’t date them all,” Suga quickly corrected. “I’ve only dated like.. nine or ten guys seriously, including you. But I’ve had twelve restraining orders in total, and a lot of them were just against stalkers or… other people, like the lady I used to live next to that tried to poison me for being gay.” 

“That’s insane.” 

“Yeah, but we can talk about that later.” 

“Actually-“

“Right now,” Suga reminded him, “We’re on our way to dinner with my best friends, remember? The judgy and protective friends who might be expecting the worst for obvious reasons. Which means we have to prove them wrong and show them what a great guy you are.” 

“Ok, what do I need to know?” 

“First impressions are key, alright? Asahi is more forgiving so he might give you a second chance if you can earn it, but Daichi and Kiyoko are ruthless. Now, Kiyoko and Asahi can be kinda quiet, so Daichi will probably lead a decent amount of the conversation, but don’t think that his opinion matters more. You need to remember that Asahi and Kiyoko are dating Nishinoya and Tanaka respectively. See, Daichi, Asahi, and Kiyoko are going to be pretty civil when they interrogate you, they're mostly trying to analyze you and see things below the surface. But Tanaka and Nishinoya will be a bit more aggressive. I know it’s been years since high school, but they might still dislike you on principle because you were part of Aoba Johsai and you’re Oikawa’s best friend. So really the only way to get them to like you is to get Kiyoko and Asahi to like you. Oh, and don’t mention that I’m spending most nights at your place, they’ll assume that I’m going to move in with you too early and then when we break up they’ll have to take care of me until I find a new place. And try not to look so… muscly.” 

“What?” 

“You know, just tone down the beefiness a little.” 

“How am I supposed to do that?” 

“I dunno, posture? Just try to look like you’re not strong enough to kidnap me.” 

“Please tell me that hasn’t happened to you,” Iwaizumi pleaded, because there was only so much new, terrifying information he could take at once. 

“Not yet!” Suga chirped, as if it was something less serious. “There's been a close call but that doesn’t matter. Just try to seem more harmless and submissive.”

“But how do I do that?”

“I don’t know, smile more? Try acting like me, nobody ever finds me too threatening.” 

Iwaizumi shook his head. “Do you mean act like you when we first met and you were all polite and shy, or act like the brat I know you are now?” 

“I’m not a brat,” Suga argued, but there was no bite in his tone.

“Tell that to my neighbors, I’m sure they’ve heard enough to get the idea.” 

“Shut up,” Suga mumbled as he lightly smacked Iwaizumi’s arm, looking away to hide his blush, and Iwaizumi had to bite back a laugh. It was funny, and somewhat ironic, that despite how bold and affectionate and teasing Suga could be, he was still so easy to fluster sometimes. Because it didn’t matter how confident Suga was in initiating little flirtations, he would always get so embarrassed and overwhelmed when Iwaizumi would do those same things, especially if they were in public. It was one of those little things that made Iwaizumi’s heart beat faster, knowing that he was special enough to make Suga genuinely blush and cover his mouth with his hand to try and hide his nervous smile. 

As they pulled into the restaurant parking lot Iwaizumi took a deep breath and attempted to mentally prepare himself for the evening. 

Suga patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. You’re a great boyfriend and I’m sure they’ll see it too. Let’s go.” 

It wasn’t a lot of encouragement, but after listening to Suga go on about his exes and his friends’ high standards, Iwaizumi was glad to be reminded that, no matter what, he had Suga on his side, and that’s all that mattered. He loved Suga, even if they hadn’t said it out loud yet, Iwaizumi was confident in the way he felt, and as long as he had Suga then it would be fine.

#iwaizumi hajime #sugawara koushi #iwasuga #hq #haikyuu #haikyuu!! #haikyu #haikyu!! #fanfic #hq fanfic #rarepair #suga's bad taste in men is my favorite hc and you can't take it away #some implied stuff but its not serious

[asphyxiateher]

Only Monsters Come Out at Night *Chapter Update*

Chapter 7: The Devil Within Summary: Desdemona has been neglecting her health ever since she murdered her best friend but when the three women she's been bonded to come for a visit, she finds out all sorts of vital information that strengthens the bond she shares with them. Bela has a plan that may or may not piss off her mother but she swears it's for the good of their family. A/N: Thank you all so much for your patience and overwhelming support! I originally intended to end this book with this chapter but with all the comments I've been receiving, I've enjoyed fleshing out my characters even more and adding more to the story than I intended and I love how its turning out so much! I should have more time to work on this story next week since I requested some much needed time off from work. Anyway, please enjoy and thank you all again!

    Desdemona doesn’t know how long it’s been since the incident with Veronica occurred. Ever since it happened, she had been plagued with guilt that eats away at the core of her soul and it seemed impossible to want to do or think about anything else. All she wanted to do these days was linger in the shadows and let the darkness consume her. Her mind is slipping away into nothing, her body slowly deteriorating because she refused to eat, and all she had left was the promise of death as she barely held onto life by a breath. Veronica’s lifeless eyes still haunted Desdemona every time she tried to close her eyes and it made her feel sick to her stomach all over again when she replayed the events of that fateful night. She tossed and turned as the images of Bela, Cassandra, and Daniela feasting upon her best friend’s corpse played in her mind, praising her for the kill as they did so, and the guilt churned within her even more. She wanted to be punished for killing her best friend, she deserved to die and so she lay in the room Alcina transferred her to and decided to rot alone where nobody could see her. Lady Dimitrescu’s daughters assumed that a change of environment would alter Desdemona’s self-destructive behavior, so they moved her to the room next to Bela’s since it was spacious enough to enjoy her other hobbies. Alcina and her daughters soon realized that their human plaything still refused to take care of herself properly and Alcina warned her daughters that if they did not do anything about it soon, Mother Miranda would have another vessel for her ungodly experimentations. This would explain the frequent visitation from all three girls, but today’s visit somehow felt different to Desdemona when she felt their presence outside of her door.

Desdemona sighs when she hears the familiar knocking on the door, a surprise to her at first since Alcina’s daughters didn’t embody politeness. The door swings open and Bela is the first face she sees as always, her sisters following her the moment she steps in and drops off a tray of food. Daniela used to tease her about the untouched trays of food they would walk into but now it was a little worrying. The last thing any of them wanted to do was to put down their favorite human plaything. Cassandra’s eyes linger on the untouched trays of food building up in the corner and rolls her eyes but refused to make a comment in case she offended her pet.

“Tsk, tsk, Desdemona, what shall we ever do with you? We are attempting to accommodate your needs yet you spit in our faces when we demonstrate kindness. That’s quite unfair.” Bela says with a frown as she gives Desdemona a once over, her brows furrowing when she realized the human’s condition was starting to worsen a little.

Desdemona exhales and closes her eyes for a moment before she slowly turns to face all three women. She wants to be furious. She wants to scream at them, throw something in their faces and make them feel small and insignificant but nothing can drown out the sorrow that has swallowed her whole. She opens her mouth to speak but the extreme thirst she feels burning in the back of her throat causes her voice to crack and it seemed nearly impossible to form words because of it.

Cassandra notices how dry her lips are, so she picks up the goblet of water from the tray and walks over to Desdemona’s prone form on the floor. She had been annoyed with the mild inconveniences her pet’s behavior had created but now she was legitimately concerned for her well-being, a concept that had seemed foreign to her. Cassandra loved and cared for her sisters but to care for mortals and the other people Alcina preferred the company of outside of family was beyond her. Still, she felt the need to show Desdemona tough love because she cared.

She kneels on the floor beside the smaller girl and roughly yanks her by the collar so she could force the human to sit upright. Desdemona doesn’t fight it, but she isn’t happy about being touched when she just wants to lay in this room to die. She wonders why they don’t just move on to the next best thing when she is just a passing interest anyway. Her mind is quieted when Cassandra tilts her head and gently compels Desdemona to sip the water continuously.   “This is an improvement, Desdemona. As much as I would personally enjoy forcing this water down your gullet, you are in a fragile state and I would hate to break you, pretty thing. Why do you humans neglect self-care so much? I will never understand how you mortals function like this.” Cassandra tells the smaller girl, an arm now wrapping around her waist possessively as she pulls her tighter against her chest. Bela looks mildly annoyed by the action but doesn’t say anything.

“You will never understand, I’m sorry to say. If you’ve never experienced grief so great that it feels like a tidal wave of pure misery coming down on you, and you suddenly feel yourself being pulled to the bottomless depths of despair that it becomes difficult for you to try and come up for air, so rather than fight the inevitable you let yourself sink because it’s easier to accept your fate, then you will never fully comprehend what I’m going through.” Desdemona replies quietly, taking a few moments in between sips to speak.

Daniela eyes her curiously after she says this and then her eyes flick over to her eldest sister, who seems to have pulled out Desdemona’s phone before she decides to kneel beside Desdemona as well. The rambunctious sibling didn’t want to feel left out so she decides to sit herself on the floor next to her pet, her head resting on Desdemona’s shoulder as one of her hands gripped the younger girl’s thigh. Desdemona was too weak to fight her off but the dark whispers in her mind were soothing her, reminding her that Daniela’s touch was supposed to be comforting. It didn’t matter how depressed she was over the fact that she killed her best friend in order to save Daniela’s life; the bond she shared with all of them made her feel at ease at the same time and this stirred conflicting emotions within her.

 “Help us understand you, Desdemona. Why can’t you seem to move on from this moral dilemma of yours?” Bela asked, showing the other girl her phone and on the screen were all the photos she had taken with friends, family, and strangers she had met at bars and work. The one picture Desdemona couldn’t take her eyes off of was the picture she and Veronica had taken when they were in middle school. Veronica had just gotten her braces and Desdemona was going through her awkward Hot Topic phase and once again, tears began to well up at the fond memories she had with the girl she had betrayed and murdered in cold blood. Veronica Joss was the best friend she had ever had in her life and Desdemona killed her. How could she ever move on from that?

“You don’t get it and you never will. V was my ride or die, and I betrayed her to save your sister’s life. I haven’t known any of you for more than three weeks and the girl whose corpse you desecrated was somebody I had known since I was a little girl. We fought with each other, we loved each other, and we made each other stronger through the years. She was there for me when I came out to my parents as a lesbian, which apparently isn’t a big deal over here, but it was huge for me where I come from and where I come from, stupid people protest bakeries that sell gay pride cookies but defend a cake decorator’s decision to deny gay people service just because of who they love! Veronica kicked a girl’s ass for me when she tried to touch me when I wasn’t ready to be touched. I destroyed a guy’s car with spray paint, my keys, and glitter when he cheated on her with someone she thought was her friend. Veronica put her life on hold when I became depressed our senior year of high school and helped me overcome one of the worst phases of my life. I graduated because of her and you know what I did to repay her for her years of friendship and unwavering loyalty? I fucking killed her and for WHAT!?”  Desdemona yells out, angry tears now spilling out uncontrollably. She has the urge to shove Daniela off of her because her presence was now overwhelming, her presence a reminder that Veronica was dead and there was nothing she could do to bring her back. She glances over at Daniela and her heart stops at the sight of Alcina’s youngest looking down at her with a sad smile on her face, almost as if she looked…remorseful. She feels their connection vibrate with an emotion she can’t seem to place, and it makes her uncomfortable because she knows she has every right to be enraged but looking into Daniela’s glowing yellow eyes, guilt quickly takes over.

Bela doesn’t look bored but the neutral expression on her face bothered Desdemona a bit. Cassandra had the decency to look away for a moment although she was certain it was because Cassandra still didn’t fathom why she felt so strongly about the way things went down recently.

“You are the first human to ever share their experiences with us, you know. When we first met, you were driving me and my sisters wild with a lust we had never known before. We intended to kill you at some point but when we tasted you and you shared with us gifts that no one had ever given to us before, you unknowingly created a bond I know that you can feel. We feel what you feel and it is foreign to us, and I’m sure you can say the same about what you’re feeling whenever you’re near us. I…would, however, like to know more about you, I find myself completely enthralled by your history. The bond between us is growing stronger and I must confess, I’m enjoying the slow development of our relationship immensely.” Bela admits hesitantly as she points to pictures on the phone that she finds interesting.

Desdemona blinks at the revelation. They were all homicidal maniacs that reveled in the misery of others. They killed people for either fun or sustenance and here they were telling her how fond they were of her! The absolute nerve of them all! She should tell them off, attempt to run away and get maimed by Lady Alcina Dimitrescu or something! She shouldn’t put up with any of this, not after she killed Veronica in favor of Daniela. Why can’t she summon the willpower to do the things she wanted to do instead of listening to the stupid dark whispers that have completely numbed out whatever rational thoughts she had left?

 “Why do you care? I have nothing to live for anymore; I lost the only people that ever mattered to me, and I just don’t have the strength to carry on anymore. I should bore you, waste your time, and possibly piss you off until you finally snap and kill me like you wanted to. Why jump through all these hoops just because you’re lonely and you don’t understand how friendships or romantic relationships work? Why don’t you kill me already?” Desdemona presses. She’s disappointed that this doesn’t elicit a reaction out of Bela but both Daniela and Cassandra are now paying close attention to how they’re interacting with one another.

 Bela smiles at that so she puts down the phone to pull out a journal from her satchel that she brought with her. She carefully hands it over to Desdemona and Desdemona raises her eyebrow at the fact that the journal clearly belongs to her mother.

“Why are you giving me this?”

“I want to tell you a story but it involves my mother and how we were created. You may think that we don’t know what love is but we do. We come from drastically different backgrounds, we’re not even the same species, but we have something in common, Desdemona Hawthorne. I want you to listen and pay close attention because we don’t get attached to mortals or form deep bonds with just anyone; you are special to us, Little One and by me sharing our history, we will strengthen our bond and we will have a better understanding of each other. Our love will truly stand the test of time of that I can assure you.” Bela replies before launching into the tale of the four lords of the region, Alcina’s origins, and Mother Miranda’s history and why she continued to experiment on unwilling specimens in the region. Cassandra pitched in when she could. Daniela surprisingly contributed to the conversation more with her knowledge of the Four Lords; she wholeheartedly spoke about Donna Beneviento while she spoke about the other two lords of the region with great distaste. As Desdemona listened to their tales, she found herself eager to learn more, especially when Bela spoke about Miranda with a bitter tone to her voice. There was clearly a rift between her mother and this Miranda figure and Bela made it clear that Alcina looked up to the other woman. There was something to the way Alcina’s daughters frowned whenever Miranda’s name was mentioned and Desdemona herself felt the bond between all of them quiver with fear when they explained the nature of Miranda’s experimentations.

This woman was going to great lengths just to revive her dead daughter, and it did not matter how often she failed, she kept going. Even with Alcina aiding Mother Miranda, Bela suspected that Miranda would throw them all under the metaphorical bus just to cover her tracks.

“You don’t trust Mother Miranda, do you? When she released the lycans on the villagers, it sounds like you think she’s ready to sacrifice the only capable people that have been useful to her if it meant saving her own ass. Why do you feel that way?” Desdemona finally asked when the oppressive silence that followed her tales became too much to endure.

This information she learned…it was tremendous. Just one look at Lady Dimitrescu, and Desdemona wouldn’t have pegged her for a jazz musician or a winemaker, but she was all of that and more. Despite Alcina’s wicked nature and the cruel way she treated her servants, it astounded Desdemona that none of the girls were biologically hers yet she adopted all three of them when she formed a bond with them. If Desdemona were to be perfectly honest, she didn’t think Alcina was capable of love but…her overprotective nature of the girls made sense. While none of the murders or horrifying way they process their wine using maiden blood were in any way justifiable, they were apex predators at the top of the food chain doing what they must in order to maintain survival. They were no ordinary family, but the dynamics were the same and Desdemona can see by the way Bela holds her mother in high regard that they clearly know what love is.

“No, I do not trust Mother Miranda and I fear for my mother’s safety. When your group stumbled upon the village while we were out scouting for leftovers, we were ready to kill you all and have our way with you thinking you had been sent by Miranda to dispatch my mother. It turned out you were foreigners from another land, complete strangers to us and the other lords and the relief I felt knowing that you never even met the revered cult leader of the village was immeasurable. She’s incredibly dangerous, Desdemona, and no matter how often I tell my mother that we ought to cut our ties with her, she will not heed my warnings. While my mother is powerful, she cannot take Miranda on alone and the only other lord we can possibly convince to side with us is Donna Beneviento.” Bela finishes, feeding a spoonful of soup into Desdemona’s mouth. Desdemona didn’t realize how long she’d been distracted but her stomach felt full and looking down, Bela had been feeding her the entire time they had been talking. She was flabbergasted at how they were able to coax her into eating again after starving herself for a few days and she didn’t even notice that it had been happening the entire time. The dark whispers in her mind are telling her to calm herself, that her mistresses were taking care of her in her time of need and that she needed to be grateful. Desdemona obliged, surprisingly, and willfully took another sip of her water that Cassandra had at the ready for her.

When Desdemona slowly breathes in and out, there’s a renewed energy she hadn’t felt in days and the other women must have felt that sudden spark as well through their shared bond when they all turned to look at her.

“Well done, sister, look who’s back. There’s that familiar glow of yours that I’ve grown to love so much.” Cassandra says chuckling. She pushes aside Desdemona’s hair to reveal her collarbone and plants a gentle kiss on the exposed skin.

Daniela excitedly cups Desdemona’s chin and forcefully turns her head to the side so she could kiss her. It was sloppy and a little wet but Desdemona found herself kissing the other woman back just as enthusiastically. Daniela pulls away giggling but pouts when Bela stands up, pulling Desdemona to her feet as well. Bela delicately plays with Desdemona’s fingers for a moment before she raises a hand to cup Desdemona’s cheek. Once again, Desdemona’s inner turmoil from before has vanished and she leans into the touch, causing Bela to smirk. The blonde woman pulls Desdemona closer to her and presses a kiss to her lips, a kiss that leaves Desdemona wanting more. She had wanted nothing to do with them after recent events but here she was letting them touch and kiss her like they didn’t tear Veronica’s corpse apart after she had killed her.

Thinking back on her best friend’s death, Desdemona attempts to step away from Bela but the eldest sister kept her in place and hugged her closely. Because of the height difference, Desdemona’s head fell just a bit under Bela’s breasts and this made it easier for Bela to stroke her hair and whisper sweet nothings to her as if her pretty words could erase her horrendous actions. Maybe it was due to the fact that their bond was strengthening but Desdemona was starting to feel more at ease as her mind once again begins to slip away into nothing.

No longer could she resist the call of Lady Dimitrescu’s daughters whenever they were near her and the inner voice in her head that protested their actions was silenced, dulled, and ignored. In that moment, she wanted nothing more than to please them and to do whatever was asked of her. The traumatizing memory of Veronica’s death was starting to fade away as happiness begins to seep in the longer she remained in Bela’s arms. Desdemona was losing herself, no longer willing to fight the women she was now bonded to and there was nothing she could do about it. She wanted nothing more than to be embraced and loved by Alcina and her daughters as the feeling of being needed and wanted by these exquisite creatures overpowered everything else in her life. They chose her, she was their chosen one, and nothing could top that.

 When Desdemona sighs and slightly pulls away from Bela, she looks up at Bela adoringly, a stark contrast to how she’d been behaving and treating them from earlier before, and Bela looks relieved. She leans down and kisses Desdemona, her arm encircling her waist as she dips her to kiss her even more deeply. When they break apart, Bela smiles at Desdemona and notices the glazed look in her eyes.

“You’re changing, Little One. Until the time comes for your final transformation, we’ll need to keep our wits about us. Either we’ll assist Mother Miranda in finding another vessel to revive her daughter or we’ll be taking her on with hopefully one of the other Lords on mother’s side. Daniela, I need you to write a letter to Donna Beneviento and invite her over for a wine tasting, I’m sure that woman could use company right now. Cassandra, take our dear little Desdemona and clean her up in the bath. We need her presentable as we propose our ideas to our dear friend Donna. We cannot risk Mother overhearing our plans.” Bela says as she passes a dazed and confused Desdemona over to Cassandra. “Do you truly think Donna will be able to help us in any shape or form? I think going behind mother’s back is truly a disastrous idea.” Cassandra tells Bela as she carefully lifts Desdemona and carries her bridal style.

“We cannot risk Miranda betraying our mother first. She’s become reckless as of late and there’s no telling what that woman is capable of. She destroyed the village using the lycans, who’s to say she isn’t planning on sacrificing us all for her own benefit? Either we find a successful vessel or we prepare ourselves to fight; Desdemona’s transformation is nearly complete and we’re going to need her if we plan on luring more people out here.” “What are you going to be doing while we make preparations, Bela?”

“I’m going to make a few inquisitive phone calls to the innkeeper that led our beloved Desdemona over to us. As much as I would love to see Mother put down Miranda once and for all, it would be easier to lure in more victims with great potential. I do not want to see our family fall, not after all we’ve been through and not after we’ve found a loving companion to keep with us. I…love Desdemona, I would like to continue exploring these new feelings with her but not with Miranda behaving the way she has been as of late. You may not see the danger behind her actions, but I do and I will not stand for it.” Bela says determinedly, as she runs her fingers through Desdemona’s thick tresses. Desdemona had fallen asleep in Cassandra’s arms, an effect of the drug she had slipped into her food. They needed to make their case presentable, and Donna’s input would be invaluable, even if she disagreed with their actions. There’s no way Miranda’s actions weren’t suspicious to anybody else so she had to see for herself if the other lords were continuing to follow Miranda’s orders blindly. She loathed to think so little of her own mother, but Alcina’s been trying to prove herself to the other woman for so long that Bela thinks the the effort just wasn’t worth it anymore. They were going to present another vessel to Miranda and if the ritual failed, then they would plan their attack. However, if this next vessel somehow succeeded in reviving Miranda’s daughter, then they could finally cut their ties with the woman and live on peacefully in their castle away from all the bullshit politics. Bela just wanted her family to remain safe, and with Desdemona now bonded to them as their fledgling, Bela had a lot to lose should their plan fail but she was now more determined than ever to make sure their plan worked. She’d never known love outside of family before but this connection with Desdemona opened her up to a whole new world of feelings waiting to be explored and she wasn’t going to lose that. Not now, not ever.

#resident evil village #resident evil 8 #RE8 Village #RE8 #mine #only monsters come out at night #chapter update #chapter 7 #bela dimitrescu #daniela dimitrescu #cassandra dimitrescu #Alcina Dimitrescu #bela dimitrescu x ofc #daniela dimitrescu x ofc #cassandra dimitrescu x ofc #Lady Dimitrescu's daughters

[sheyshocked]

Stay proud

Summary: Echo and Ripple spend a wonderful day at a Pride festival.

Ship: Blue-haired Traci (Echo) / Blue-haired Traci´s girlfriend (Ripple), Markus/Simon (Detroit: Become Human)

Warnings: Swearing, Implied/Referenced Homophobia

Tags: Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Gay Pride, Established Relationship, Bisexual Markus (Detroit: Become Human), Canon Lesbian Relationship, Pride Parades, Teasing, Nicknames

Wordcount: 2,022

A/N: So, a quick disclaimer - I’ve never actually been to Pride. Pride 2020 was supposed to be my very first, and oh well. That didn’t work out. So have my idealized version of it in this fic! Enjoy and have a very nice Pride Month!

You can also read it on ao3!

It was nearing June, Echo’s most beloved time of the year. She hasn’t been around for long, it’s true, but June was still her favorite month. She couldn’t get enough of the warm and gentle breeze of the nearing summer. She adored wearing cute frilly dresses and straw hats. And she liked picking strawberries and selling smoothies. But most of all, she loved how excited her beloved Ripple always got for this season.

How much time she spent picking her sunglasses (which she technically didn’t need, but who was Echo to stop her?), only to wear the same huge pair of pink heart-shaped sunglasses as always. She had an entire collection full of them. And don’t let her get started on the whole pool party thing! But what amused her the most was her enthusiasm for Pride Month.

“Oh, Blues, my one and only!” Ever the drama queen, Echo rolled her eyes with a fond smirk on her face before turning from the flat screen of the TV to her girlfriend, who was stagily pretending to swoon to get her attention. There was only one of those flashy cash-grabbing ads full of rainbows running on the TV anyway. “Please please tell me we’ll come to see the parade this year!”

Hm. Not that she didn’t like the idea, it seemed like a lot of fun, but putting themselves out of there? It sounded dangerous. And she would never endanger the life of her dearest ever again. So, despite having a hard time saying “no” to those adorable puppy eyes, she stood her ground.

“I’m not sure it’s a good idea. What if someone starts having a problem with us being... you know?”

“Then fuck them,” Ripple spat out the reply with all the spite she had in her. It never failed to make Echo go weak in her knees, to see how unashamedly herself her girlfriend was. Wish she had her confidence. “Who cares? Jerks are everywhere. Always. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn't go out and have some fun, don’t you think, Bluebell?”

Echo heaved a sigh. She knew her lover enough to be aware that if she took something in her head, she would pursue it no matter what. So she raised her hands in the air, defeated. “Fine, I see there’s no way I could convince you otherwise.”

“So...?”

“We’ll give it a shot.” Seeing Ripple’s all too happy face, she hurried to add: “But only because you would be mad at me if we didn’t!"

The grin she received in return was almost too pure for this world. Damn, she really had her wrapped around her finger, didn’t she? Before she could ponder too much about it, Ripple threw her hands around her neck and gave her one of her world-famous bear hugs. “Oh my god, Sweets, you know me so well. Thank you! I’m sure it will be fun. Just give it a chance!”

“Oh, I will, don’t you worry,” Echo purred, kneading Ripple’s hips as an afterthought. “And I will hold you personally responsible if it isn’t."

“Challenge accepted,” Ripple grinned at her, and before she could say anything more, their lips locked in a passionate kiss.

***

Time flew by like a dream and soon it was time for them to get ready for their very first Pride parade. Echo kept anxiously shuffling her feet as she watched her girlfriend adding a few finishing touches to her outfit.

“Are you sure about this? Isn’t it... a bit too much?” she found her voice to ask.

“Echo, relax! Tons of people do this. It’s fine!”

Ripple finally put down the pink marker to admire her handiwork. The porcelain-like skin on her right cheek has now changed into a beautiful canvas brimming with colors, ranging from various shades of red, orange, and pink, layered with a precision only an android could muster. A prettily made flag, screaming into the world that she was out and proud. Typical Ripple.

“So, what do you think? Am I as dashing-looking as always?” She did a small twirl, showing off her full outfit just to tease her. Well, it was very nice, there was no beating around the bush. The comfy flanel shirt really brought out her eyes. But of course, what stuck out the most was the lesbian flag painted on her cheek. Her symbol of pride. Their symbol. Echo went to caress it with her hand, only for Ripple to dodge her touch, screaming: “No touching! It’s still wet!”

Echo laughed and chased after her, pretending she wanted to touch just to hear her squeal. She would never touch her without her permission if they were being serious, of course, but playing like this was alright.

“It’s pretty,” she finally admitted among giggles. “The colors suit you.”

“Aww, thanks, babe. Bet you would rock this look as well. Are you sure you don’t want one too? Just a teeny tiny one?”

“Nah, I’m good,” Echo shook her head and reached for her backpack, which had a small decent rainbow on it above letters that read: Love is love. “I prefer more subtlety."

Ripple chuckled. “That’s what you call subtle?” It took her one nasty look to change her tone. “Alright, point taken, Your Majesty. Now let’s get going before they start without us!”

She grabbed Echo’s hand and led her (more like dragged her) outside, so they could get on the bus that would take them to the Plaza where most of the parade was taking place.

***

There was... so much noise. So many people. All dressed up in the colors of the rainbow. They even noticed some androids in the crowd, people just like them, chilling and having fun with others, and no one has said a damn word. Echo was quite perplexed by it, to say the least. She has never experienced so much euphoria and positivity in her entire (albeit brief) life. It was quite breathtaking, to be honest.

She would never admit that out loud, but she was happy Ripple convinced her to go. Everything was just peachy, up until they ran into some protesters.

They were shouting at them from the sidelines, holding all sorts of rude banners. One of them apparently noticed Echo, and pointed a finger at her, loudly proclaiming: “Is that a fucking Traci?!”

At that moment, Echo thought she was going to die from shame or disgust.

Thank god she had her wonderful, sensitive girlfriend by her side.

Ripple quickly made her turn her head towards her, saying: “Don’t look over there. Look at me. We won’t let those sons of bitches spoil our fun, now, will we?”

She shook her head. “You are right. We won’t.”

They escaped deeper into the crowd, not paying attention anymore to those spiteful groups at the sidelines, kept away by the police. The only thing that mattered was the two of them, holding hands in a crowd full of other supportive people.

At some point, a small street vendor’s stall caught Ripple’s attention. There wasn’t anything of interest there, just the standard set of souvenirs like rainbow-colored bracelets and flags. What was more remarkable was the customer currently browsing through the goods.

“Shh, Echo, look!” Ripple nudged her lover and once she had her attention, ever so subtly pointed to the stall. “Isn’t that Markus right over there?”

Echo squinted in the direction, then her eyes widened. “You’re right, it’s him! What’s he doing here? Doesn’t he have a revolution to run?”

“Even revolutionaries wanna have fun I bet,” Ripple shrugged with a chuckle. “Let’s go say hi to him!”

“Ripple, wait!” Echo cried out, but it was too late. Her force-of-a-nature girlfriend was already dragging her towards the stall and the poor unsuspecting man.

“Hi, Markus!”

Markus spared them a glance at first, obviously flustered by the whole situation (being recognized, and so loudly on top of that - Echo gently shoved her girlfriend for not being more considerate), but once he finally recognized them, he gave them both a warm smile. “Echo, Ripple! Nice to see you here.”

“Nice to see you too! We didn’t expect to meet you here, to be honest. What a coincidence.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking like a schoolboy caught sneaking out to have a smoke. “Yeah, well, I shouldn’t be here, if I’m being honest. Duty calls and all that. But Simon was really looking forward to us going here together, and then he couldn’t because of work, so...”

The kind old vendor lady handed him the goods he ordered - one small pink, purple and blue flag, along with the standard rainbow one. He took it with a smile. Echo would bet her last penny that she knew which flag belonged to whom.

“I thought it would be nice having something small at home to celebrate in private.”

“That’s a wonderful idea,” Echo nodded and Ripple was quick to follow. “I’m sure Simon is gonna appreciate the thought.”

A small, dreamy smile crossed his lips. It felt somehow private, reserved only for his better half. “I hope so too. Anyway, I really should be going now. Enjoy the rest of the day. Oh, and stay proud!”

“Stay proud,” they bid him farewell before they parted ways, feeling giddy by the whole encounter. Markus was often treated like some sort of a golden idol, so it was refreshing to see he was only a person, just like the rest of them.

***

The day has passed quickly by in pleasant company. They met some new friends and had the time of their lives, but being around people was draining their energy more than they expected. So eventually, Echo leaned to her partner and whispered: “I’m tired. We should pack our things and go catch the bus.”

“Yeah,” Ripple agreed. “It’s been one hell of a party. But I’m getting sleepy as well. Let’s... Oh. Is that a photo booth?”

She looked in the same direction - and really, there was a small photo booth, just waiting for someone to use it. And at that one single moment, it seemed like the same thought has crossed their minds at the same time. “Let’s take some pictures before we go!”

Thank goodness there wasn’t much of a queue. They went right in, sat down, and then the craziness began. The first few photos were kinda tame, with them just sitting, having their arms wrapped around each other, or sharing a kiss on the cheek. But then, Ripple grew bored.

She took the ends of Echo’s vividly blue hair and started pretending it was her mustache. Click. Echo chuckled, eyes twinkling with amusement as she joined in with the worst duckface this world has ever seen. Click. They both stuck out their tongue. Click. Click. Click...

It went on and on and they couldn’t stop laughing the entire time. They made a lot of batshit crazy shots, but hey, that was part of the fun, wasn’t it?

At the end of the session, they picked a few they liked the most (Ripple insisted on that awful one with her blowing air onto Echo’s neck, who was laughing so hard she had her eyes closed and head thrown back - but to be fair, she had plenty of “incriminating” photos as well) and got them printed.

When they got back home, they nailed a string to the wall and put all the printed photos on display, along with a small lesbian flag (painted by Ripple herself, as she had “the most experience with it by now”) and some Christmas lights to finish the look.

“You know what?” Echo laid her head on her girlfriend’s shoulder once they were done, feeling... happy, but tired. She never experienced anything like this. It was exquisite. “You were right. It was a lot of fun. And we made some great memories today.”

She got a warm smirk in return. Cheeky bastard. “Told ya, didn’t I?”

“You did.”

They drifted off into a comfortable silence as they admired their small photo gallery. They couldn’t help but smile at the sight. This was simply the best day ever.

#detroit become human #echo/ripple #simarkus #dbh #dbh fanfiction #dbh echo #dbh ripple #dbh traci #dbh markus #dbh fanfic #shey scribbles #pride month

[demetriandelibinaryboyfriends]

AIGHT Y’ALL I wasn’t tagged but I’m doing this anyways because f u c k  i t

It's the year 2021 and you're obsessed with The Karate Kid. How are you feeling?

Deadasss weird as fuck, my dude. Like...out of all the things I could’ve predicted happening in our lord’s year 2021, it definitely was NOT getting hyperfixated on a hammy gay ship with a punk and a nerd from a goddamn karate soap opera. And yet...here we are??? I will never understand hyperfixations, my guy. But I’ve met a lot of really cool people in this fandom, so I can’t really complain.

Did you grow up with TKK or are you new to the series?

I have never seen a single Karate Kid movie in my entire life. When I was a kid, it looked kinda dumb so I never got into it XD But then I saw my roommate watching Cobra Kai on Youtube Red one day (he has every streaming service known to man) and I was hooked. And...here I am!

We gotta do the basics. Favorite character:  

Literally EVERYONE except for Kreese, Yasmine, Kyler, and Tory, sorry stans

Okay but if we gotta pick, Johnny Lawrence is my Problematic Fave. Also I love my boy Daniel, he’s trying his best!!! And Amanda LaRusso, we stan a queen!!!

Among the kids, definitely Miguel, with Demetri as a close second. I also love Sam, Aisha, Moon, and Hawk (pre- and post-Bastardization Arc, anyways XD)!

Favorite ship:  

Take a look at my username and take a WILD FUCKING GUESS lmao Yes it’s Eli/Demetri because DUH, every interaction they have is so fucking gay and Eli fucking saved him!!! And came back to him!!! And betrayed the world’s most terrifying dojo with a WAR CRIMINAL SENSEI all for Demetri!!! And how Demetri was willing to forgive him for everything at the drop of a hat because he always had faith there was still good in his best friend??? That’s TRUE LOVE motherfuckers. Please let them kiss in Season 4. I will sell you all of my limbs. Sam/Miguel is a close second because they’re cute as shit and it’s just so lovely to see two people so unapologetically smitten with each other. They are in LOVE, and I will RIOT if they break up again!!! Keep Sam and Miguel together 2k21!!!

Underrated character:

SAMANTHA LARUSSO!!! The amount of hate my girl gets for acting like a normal teenager and fucking up occasionally JUST like the rest of the cast makes me want to start punching things. She cares SO MUCH about her friends!!! And she loves the shit out of Miguel!!! She hasn’t always been the best friend but you know what??? Neither has Hawk, and we still forgave his ass!!! Also LET HER BE FEMININE but also kick utter ass, my god!!! Femininity should not be synonymous with being weak, y’all! ALSO DEMETRI, like yes, he likes to complain and occasionally run his mouth, but guess what else he likes to do??? Never give up on the love of his life his best friend Eli Moskowitz and refuse to lose faith in him no matter how much of a little shit he’s become, and I for one think that’s very badass of him. Also the way he takes care of Eli pre-Cobra Kai in his own snarky bastard way makes me absolutely Weak and needs more appreciation. Like the dude has charisma and COULD have probably made other friends and left Eli behind if he wanted, but did he??? No, he wants the weepy loser with the lip scar in the polo shirts and dorky sweaters and will protect him as much as his wimpy ass is able!!!

Underrated ship (don’t say therapy, lol):  

Among the adults, Daniel/Amanda!!! Like maybe I just don’t watch that much tv, but it seems kinda rare to me to see a happily married hetero couple, and it’s just nice to see a married couple who genuinely love each other and where there’s not like...lingering resentment or some shit. I feel like this ship gets overshadowed by Lawrusso a lot (which like--okay, fair!!! Daniel and Johnny do have a ridiculous amount of chemistry, and the gay undertones are undeniable, so I get it), and it makes me kinda sad. I do love Lawrusso, but I don’t like when Amanda has to get her heart broke for it to happen, you feel? Among the kids, honestly YasMoon. Like I really love the idea of Yasmine trying to better herself because of Moon’s influence on her and because Moon like...inspires her to be a better person, I guess? With their pretty strong friendship, it just makes more sense to me for Yasmine to get a redemption arc through Moon than through Demetri. ALSO girls DO often pull the whole “mean girl” shtick to cover up being closeted lesbians, and Moon IS canonically bi, so it could work!!! I just think this one could be a really interesting Friends to Lovers take, and could make a really nice coming-out arc for Yas. And MoonPiper too, honestly!!! Like they only got 5 seconds of screentime so I understand WHY it’s underrated, but I still love what we DID get and loved that there was a canon gay ship (even if only for 1 scene lmao). I’m really excited to potentially see more of them in Season 4!!! Please, I’m begging!!!

Wax On, Wax Off or Sweep the Leg?

Sweep the Leg because it will always be deeply hilarious to me how Demetri took note of the first move Eli ever used on him and spent presumably weeks perfecting it OUT OF SPITE just to get him back with it at the soccer game MONTHS later. Just goes to show how OBSESSED Demetri is with Eli and their little karate rivalry which is just NOT straight, I’m sorry

Which of Daniel’s dumb little outfits is your favorite?

There’s something so funny about this pretentious little fuck walking around in fancy suits once he becomes a #SuccessfulBusinessman, and still occasionally trying to do karate in a full-ass suit (take THAT, Tom Cole’s boba!!!) I’m also a big fan of how he looks in his gi with his little headband. Still killing that look as a 40-50-something!!!

Character from the films you most want to return, who’s not Terry Silver:

Tbh I have still never seen a single Karate Kid movie (they took them off of Netflix, RIP), so...I don’t really care if they bring anyone else back??? I’m invested in the characters we already have in the show, I don’t need some rando from the movies to make a cameo to have a good time XD The only character I really wanted them to bring back was Ali, and they already did, so like...I’m good??? That’s all I really needed, I can die in peace now XD

Scene that lives in your head rent-free:

Basically any fluffy Elimetri scene, but 5 in particular: ~Miguel first meeting Eli and Demetri at the lunch table, and Eli looking at Demetri like he hung every goddamn star in the sky ~Demetri going off at a terrifying, “unhinged” karate sensei on the first day of Cobra Kai because he made fun of Eli’s lip and Demetri is not about that shit ~ELI STEALING DEMETRI’S NACHO AND SMIRKING AT HIM, LIKE EXCUSE ME SIR PLEASE BE A LITTLE LESS HOMOSEXUAL IN FRONT OF YOUR GIRLFRIEND ~Eli yanking Demetri onstage during Valley Fest to hold a board, and Demetri being visibly like...extremely turned on when Eli breaks said board ~ELI SAVING DEMETRI DURING THE CHRISTMAS FIGHT, ELI APOLOGIZING, DEMETRI AND ELI KICKING COBRA ASS TOGETHER AKSBDCUWYVCBU

Will Anthony LaRusso ever be relevant?

I hope not! He’s kind of a funny meme character to pop up now and again but I don’t think he deserves a serious plotline when there are so many more interesting characters to follow.

You live in The Valley and are forced into the karate gang war. Which dojo do you join?

Miyagi-Do because Cobra Kai would eat me alive. Also I’d probably straight up get stuck and die in that cement mixer, if I even made it that far XD Besides, being salty that your friend who you have a crush on likes martial arts better than you and starting martial arts to impress them but also being too lazy to join anything TOO intense is a Big Mood and I am certainly not speaking from personal experience here, no sirree

What’s your training montage song?

"Shut Up and Drive” by Rihanna for a weight-training and bicep-flexing montage, “Whatever It Takes” by Imagine Dragons for a more intense punching-and-kicking-shit montage. I don’t know why this is, I just feel it in my heart.

It’s the crossover event of the century! Which TV show are you combining with Cobra Kai for an hour-long Saturday night special?

*Briefly panics because I don’t actually watch that much TV and most of the stuff I do watch is fantasy/sci fi shit that absolutely would not work for a CK crossover*

Hmmmm okay but ACTUALLY

You know what would be fucking funny as hell would be an It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia crossover. Allow me to elaborate: ~The Gang goes to LA on vacation during the height of the Karate Dojo Wars. They literally can get barely anything done without all these goddamn karate-fighting teenagers getting in the way. ~They are all very annoyed by this. Even the most obscure of tourist attractions is eventually intercepted by karate fights. ~Mac tries to join Cobra Kai because he sees all this karate fighting on, and wants to unquestionably prove both his badassery and masculinity. Both Johnny and Kreese are like “Wtf are you doing here? Aren’t you like 30?” ~Mac gets a planet-sized crush on Johnny after all of 5 minutes and endlessly gushes to the gang about him. The gang mercilessly roast him about this and about how much of a pathetic loser with his life together in no way whatsoever Johnny sounds like. They proceed to have exactly 0 self awareness about this. ~The Waitress is in town visiting family or something, and Charlie is stalking her, as per usual. However, every time he’s about to go up and talk to her, a pack of battling Miyagi-Dos and Cobra Kais throwing punches and kicks everywhere blocks his path. One times, Mac is among one of these packs and Charlie is like “???? He didn’t get kicked out of that teen karate dojo yet???” ~Seeing how much the Kids These Days seem to like fighting, Charlie drops by a local high school to try and sell Fight Milk to the kids doing karate. Only Kyler and Brucks buy into it, and subsequently get the entire West Valley High wrestling team sick. Charlie is inevitably arrested, as Counselor Blatt thinks he’s selling the kids drugs. ~Dennis makes a plan to have sex with every hot chick he can in Los Angeles. He meets Ali on a dating app post-divorce, and inevitably tries to bang her. It doesn’t work. ~Frank crashes the rental car, and inevitably the gang ends up at one of Daniel’s dealerships. Dee quickly takes a liking to Daniel and is like “Watch, assholes--Imma homewreck this guy’s marriage.” She starts frequenting the dealerships to attempt to flirt with Daniel, until one day she walks in on him having sex with Johnny in a back room and she’s like “Is that the guy from Mac’s goddamn dojo?!?!” ~Dennis, of course, tries to sleep with Amanda. Amanda is not having it, and rebukes him in the most snarky, Amanda-esque way possible. Dennis is just like “Oh not AGAIN--the women in this goddamn diva city have too high of standards!” ~Later on, the gang is at the beach and Dennis spots the blonde lady he went out on an ill-fate date with, and decides to give it another shot--that is, until he sees her go up and kiss another woman and he’s like “IS THAT THE LADY FROM THE CAR DEALERSHIP??? STUPID-KARATE-KICK-COMMERCIAL’S WIFE?!? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.” ~Dee complains to Dennis about her lack of luck getting laid, and Dennis is just like “Oh come ON, is everyone in Los Angeles gay???” Smash cut to Hawk and Demetri having sex, Moon and Piper making out, Bert and Nate holding hands, Chris and Mitch doing oral, and Amanda, Ali, and Carmen having a threesome. ~Frank tries to scam Kreese into buying cheaply-made karate equipment for his dojo. The gang ends up having to leave LA because Kreese is quite literally plotting all of their murders.

For tagging, uuuuhhhhhh @jackonthelongwalk @soe-leo @max-eagle-fang @cc-tinslebee @backawayfromthegay @asphodel-storm do the thing, if y’all haven’t yet!

#cobra kai #cobra kai season 1 #cobra kai season 2 #cobra kai season 3 #ck #tag game #binary boyfriends #daniel larusso #johnny lawrence #it's always sunny in philadelphia #iasip

[shannonhutchins]

Josh Lyman Headcannons

So as if we didn’t know I have clearly fallen down a West Wing rabbit hole and I have lots of feelings about this wildly geeky and monomaniacal man so clearly everyone else should be subjected to these thoughts.

✨ Josh is dyslexic; I think he was formally diagnosed in middle school after the fire.  I think before middle school, Josh was a good student who coasted a bit because the material was easier to understand so he could kind of coast by a bit on his natural smarts.  But after the fire it was a perfect storm of events--he gets a bit lost in grief, he missed some school because of its aftermath, and middle school was getting harder and the pace was faster.  Anyways, he was actually really angry when he was first diagnosed.  After the fire, he vowed to be a perfect son because he didn’t want to add extra stress to his parents who were already dealing with so much so he thought it was a personal failure to get diagnosed.

✨ Josh also thought it was a sign of weakness to be dyslexic and his mom spent the better part of a month after he was diagnosed saying it wasn't but Josh just figured that was his mom, well being his mom. He had a tutor, Alexis, when he was first diagnosed.  His parents were surprised at how patient she was with Josh because most of the teachers after the fire remarked on how withdrawn he became, how he was prone to angry outbursts, and was just sort of unpredictable but Alexis took it all in stride.  She let him throw his tantrums before calmly trying to get him back on track.  By the end of their sessions Josh had picked up study habits, coping strageties on how to deal with school when it got stressful, and organizational habits.  Josh used those same strategies all the way through adulthood--its why he is always quick to work through memos out loud and with other people so he can bounce ideas off of them so he can be sure he is getting everything and to anyone else his office looked like a cluttered mess. And to anyone but Josh it was but then systems worked for him--he always knew where to find files much to the surprise of everyone else.

✨ I also think he boasts so much about his verbal SAT score because that type of test isn’t geared towards people who learned the way he learned.  he studied for months for that test because he knew if he wanted to go Ivy League he needed a competitive score.

✨ Josh has so much survivors guilt; like its a lot. Even thirty years alter he hated himself for running out of the house that night--he hated that he acted on autopilot without even thinking about Joanie.  His parents, in the months following the fire, were a mess--his dad threw himself into work and his mom became obsessive with helping out at their local synagogue.  Josh just sort of fell through the cracks because of it.  It wasn’t until he had a panic attack at Shea Stadium because someone was selling burned popcorn that Noah and Ruth realized how much they’d neglected their sons trauma.

✨ A dark place within Josh always kind of thought his parents resented Josh for living and would have preferred that Joanie lived instead.  He was sure she would have been less of a hassle and given them grandkids much earlier than he ever could have.  He never voiced that particular thought out loud until he started seeing Dr. Weeks in there aftermath of his PTSD diagnosis.  Dr. Weeks was also the first therapist that called Josh out on his bullshit and never let him skate by with anything less than honesty.  Sure she’d table things Josh wasn't ready to talk about but she always circled back and as the sessions wore on she noticed that Josh would sometimes circle back to things before she even brought it up again.  About a year into seeing Dr. Weeks Josh brings his mom to one of his sessions and they talk a lot about Joanie and the fire that day.  That’s when Josh admits that he sometimes wishes Joanie had lived instead.  Ruth just like breaks down because she never thought her son felt this way and all she says is that she’s thankful that he’s here now and that she felt the same when she saw him sitting in the back of a firetruck covered in ash and she can’t imagine a world where he wasn’t in it.  Josh still doesn’t fully let go of that guilt but that session went a long way to bringing him closure.

✨Josh grew up wealthy and because of that he could attend schools like Harvard and Yale; he clearly grew up with a certain amount of privilege but he also put in a lot of work to get there and stay there.  Like I said, he lived with massive amounts of survivor guilt and he always felt like he had to do great things as a way ti justify the fact that he lived.  To do that he sacrificed having and developing a personal life to throw himself into doing well at Harvard and then building connections at Yale he could leverage into job opportunities on the hill after he graduated.

✨ Also, I know canonically Josh dated women but in my headcanon he’s gay.  I think he dates Amy and Mandy because he so desperately wants to fit into the boxes men like him are supposed to fit into.  Also, because he was so focused on developing his academic track record he never had much time to think growing up about his dating preferences.  Sure he would stare a little too long at men and wonder what it would feel like to have one of them on top of him but he always thought once he found the right girl those thoughts would just....not be there anymore.  He’s afraid to admit to himself that he's gay because then that would mean he’d have to admit it to his parents, his friends etc and that TERRIFIES him.

✨ The first person he tells is Matt Skinner and he’s unsurprisingly very helpful as Josh tries to navigate the whole acceptance and coming out thing.  Matt also releases a very short, but terse press release the day Josh is outed and goes toe to toe with leadership when they want to use his sexuality as some sort of leveraging bargain chip in negotiations with him.

✨ Again, my headcannon is that Josh is outed (and really you can thank @callixton for making me want to write this story!).  His mom us surprised at first when she reads the story in the Washington Post about how he’s gay, the PTSD etc--and then she’s so angry reading the comments below the articles online.  She had to disconnect the phone because so many reporters wanted her comment and all she could think of was that she couldn’t be in Florida anymore.  She packed a small bag and grabbed the first flight she could to DC and bypasses the White House in favor of going straight to Josh’s Georgetown townhouse.  Ruth finds him sitting in the dark with his suit coat balled up in his hands.  Josh doesn’t fight her when she pulls him to her chest; they just sit like that for an hour before he seems to register her being there.  She’s surprised that he hasn’t cried and by the looks of how put together his apartment was that he hadn’t thrown anything in anger either.  All Ruth says is, “you’ll always be my son and nothing will ever stop me from loving you,” and then Josh finally just loses it.

✨ Toby drops by later that afternoon and offers to sit with Josh while Ruth runs out for Chinese food which was always Josh’s favorite go to comfort food. Toby doesn’t say much but does offer to introduce him to some of his friends in the community and that no matter what Toby, Donna, and Sam weren’t going anywhere.  Josh doesn’t miss the fact that he didn’t mention Leo but still he smiles weekly at Toby and says that he should stay for dinner.

#josh lyman #the west wing #josh lyman headcannons #of course this got long #callixton #shannon writes #anyways let me know what you guys think

[liron-ao3]

Good things take time

AU Malec oneshot

Magnus flips down on the couch, startling Alec, who is lying on it, fully absorbed in a book. "I hate faculty meetings," he groans. "Boring people, hideous discussions, and the worst coffee in the whole wide world."

Alec chuckles. "So, what's new?"

Magnus breathes out heavily. "Camille got the promotion."

Alec throws his book on the coffee table and sits up. "No! That's not fair. You worked so hard for it. That bitch doesn't deserve it."

Magnus smiles at the display of his best friend's righteous anger. "No, she does. It was neck and neck. There are enough men in the higher ranks. It's good that they chose an equally qualified woman."

"Those men are all old and white. A young Asian-American would have been a great choice, too."

Magnus sends a smile his way. "Why, thank you, Alexander. I'll be fine. One of those old, white men will retire or die eventually. My time will come."

Alec squeezes his shoulder. "Still, I'm sorry, Mags."

Magnus leans into the touch and closes his eyes. How he wished he could just sink into Alec's strong arms and cry out his frustration on his chest. He knows Alec would give him that. But he won't allow himself this moment of weakness. It would mess with his head and heart for days to come, as always.

He's been in love with Alec since they met in the French literature club on campus nearly a decade ago. He was his first male crush, supportive when he came out as bi, even throughout his marriage with Camille, and especially when everything went up in flames.

They moved in together when Magnus thought of selling his flat because he couldn't afford it on his own after he threw Camille out when he found her in bed with another man. But even though the start was rough, the last two years were the best of his life.

Alec is smart, funny, the calm in every single one of Magnus' storms, a shoulder to lean onto, beautiful beyond words, and unfortunately totally asexual and aromantic. The realisation had been a bummer, but Magnus still feels blessed that he can have him as a platonic friend. That's better than not having him at all.

They settled into each other's life with ease, and if Magnus weren't such a coward—his words, not mine—he would have put a queerplatonic relationship on the table months ago. But he is, so he enjoys looking at Alec, spends time with the man he loves in ways none of his exes were ever willing or able to.

"Maybe you should dance it out of your system," Alec muses. "You haven't been clubbing for months now. When was the last time you got laid?"

Magnus rolls his eyes. As if he wanted a roll in the hay with anybody but the man who asked this ridiculous question. "I'm done with one-offs," he says simply, "and I think I'm too old for clubbing."

"Oh, I live with a grandpa now. Good to know," Alec quips, and Magnus feels better already.

"With you, I would snuggle under a heating blanket, drink herbal tea, and play crossword puzzles with delight," he says, the playful retort hitting way too close to home for his own liking. Magnus hopes that Alec doesn't catch on to the slight quivering of his voice.

But Alec’s eyes just grow soft, as does his whole face. "Me, too," he all but whispers with a blush dusting his cheeks. They stare at each other for a long moment, the space between them suddenly heavy and blazing with unspoken truths.

Alec pulls his gaze away first and gets up from the couch, fleeing to the kitchen. "We still have some leftover spaghetti. You want some?" he calls over, voice strained and clipped.

Magnus doesn't answer, still sitting on the sofa, thoughts piling up to a hardly comprehensible and understandable mess. Did Alec mean it? Did he mean it the way Magnus wants him to mean it?

The clattering of dishes pulls him out of his stupor and he bolts off the couch and rushes to the kitchen. He finds Alec in front of the sink, staring at the dishwater slowly filling it.

"Alexander?"

Alec's shoulders slump in defeat, and he closes the taps. This time, Magnus doesn't hesitate to grant himself the closeness that he craves. It's Alec who so clearly needs it, after all. He pushes himself into an embrace and sighs when Alec's head lands on his shoulder.

Soothingly, he runs a hand up and down his back. "Whatever it is, I promise you, it'll be alright," Magnus says.

"It's stupid."

Magnus shakes his head. "It's you, so that's impossible, darling."

Alec chuckle-sobs and pushes his nose against Magnus' neck. "What is the real reason why you aren't going out anymore?" he asks, and Magnus can feel both their heartbeats pick up speed. He wets his lips and closes his eyes, pulls Alec closer in what might be their last embrace.

"Because I'm in love with you. I can't help it. I tried. I know it's not what you want, that you don't feel desire or romantic love. But I do, and I can't change that I want you. But this doesn't mean that anything has to change between us, okay? I've loved you before. You're too important to me."

He loosens his hold on the other man, but Alec tightens his own. "I love you, too."

Magnus' heart misses a beat or two. But then he reins in the sparkle of hope. "I know, Alexander. Our friendship means the world to me, too."

Alec pulls back at that. "No, you don't understand. I love you. As in 'Do you want to be my boyfriend?' I never felt like this before. I still don't want sex, but I want to do all the other shit couples have. The kissing and the cuddling, growing old together. I get it if this isn't enough or too much for you. I'm still figuring this out myself. I—"

Magnus cuts off the sentence with his mouth as he crashes their lips into a fiery kiss that leaves both of them breathless.

"Sorry," he says as he brushes his lipgloss off Alec's lips afterwards. "I wanted to do this for years."

Alec chuckles and presses a chaste kiss to Magnus' cheek. "Me only for a few months. But yeah, I liked it."

Magnus' face lights up in a beaming smile. "So, you're demi-romantic?"

Alec blinks at him. "You know that term?"

"You think I don't educate myself when my best friend and the man who—and I quote my stepfather—'turned me gay' comes out as ace and aro?"

Alec grins like a Cheshire cat. "So we're even." Magnus cocks an eyebrow. "I made you realise that you're bi, and you made me realise that I'm not fully aro." Alec chuckles.

Magnus looks fondly at his boyfriend. "I'm not really hungry. Would you like to do some 'couple shit'?"

Alec laughs tears. "Yes. Yes, I really do."

#malec fic #malec fanfic #malec fanfiction #malec fandom #friends to lovers #first kiss #demi-romantic alec lightwood #bisexual magnus bane #asexual alec lightwood